Originally Posted by
Andy_K
The thing I like about repainting is that it gives you an opportunity to add things like water bottle bosses. Powder coating is cheap and durable. It's also difficult to undo, so I try not to do it on anything that seems special. I guess we all have a different line for what's special. I powder coated a late 80's Bianchi Mondiale. I went for professional paint on a 70's Stella SX-76, both with bad paint when I got them. I re-sold a '73 Raleigh International that had decent paint because I couldn't modify it the way I would have liked without destroying the paint and I knew someone would love it the way it was. I'd probably powder coat an International that needed new paint. I know some people hate powder coat, but I'm not one of them.
Yeah, I did that with my trek 720 including the frame mods and could not be happier. It was still cheaper than buying a brand new (and to me inferior) Surly long haul trucker frame.
But on my vintage riders, after cycling through many bikes I have learned that it is cheaper to buy a bike in better condition and paint is a gigantic commitment in money and effort. I still pick bikes that need a ton of work because I like working on bikes but it pays to just let go of a bike with mediocre paint and then find one with a better finish.