ledzeppgirl

Helly everyone.
This is my first time posting on any kind of forum so excuse me if I word anything badly and I really hope someone can help.
I have a Takara Custom 12 frame made in '76 I believe and I really want to have her restored but every place I've called in Saint Petersburg quoted me over 100 dollars and that's just too much to drop on a bike that I've already spent several hundred building up.
SO,
I'm thinking maybe I can sand it down and repaint her myself but I REALLY want to still have the stickers and plaque.
So basically I just need to know where to order new stickers and the front plaque, and tips on restoring it, or even cheap places that will do it for me.

Please and thank you.

fleslider 

a bit over $!00.00 is a good deal for painting the bike. when you factor in the Sandpaper, cans of Primer, paint and Clear coat you will be close and it will be thin paint and usually not as nice as a professional paint job, unless you are really good with Spray paint then it might look pretty good but will usually be thin.

As far as graphics are concerned, alot of people here velocals.com but a quick look they dont have a listing for Takara.

francophile 

It's even tough to get frame and fork powdercoated (which is cheaper than painting) for less than $100. Painting is usually in the $150-350 range for SE USA, and I'd only trust it with someone who regularly works with bikes.

For stickers, there's several sources. One of the bigger operations in domestic US is VeloCals. Over in Australia is CycloMundo. There's someone that does a great job who's a little smaller here, I'll need to look it up, gimme a few.

repechage

Happy you wish to keep it going and improve it.

The "plaque" you mention is probably the head badge, very likely riveted, just made them out, small rivets are around, often by the Box of 1,000! though. Yep, I have done that.
This forum has many fans of all levels of bikes, the problem is that it can cost as much to restore a cheaper one than an expensive one. $100 is pretty cheap, even if you do all the mechanical labor to get it ready.

Here are the hard economics- you might be able to find a different complete bike of which to transfer your components too for less than refinishing this one.

In do it yourself mode, the outlay for materials and maybe sublet stripping or sandblasting may be more than $100. And you need a place to spray and dry the paint, this is without graphics. I have a hunch while the graphics are simple appearing single color, the creation of vector art to cut them in vinyl may make them $100 or more alone.
The more popular bikes that have the art already done are typically $40 to a bit more, add in postage too beyond that.

francophile 

Ah here we go, dunno why this kept slipping my mind, HLloyd's @ H Lloyd Cycles - H Lloyd Cycles - HOME

randyjawa 

Before starting, you might want to get an understanding of what you are doing. Generally, painting a vintage bicycle is not all that inexpensive and will actually lower the value of the bicycle. So, spend a bit of time trying to ask yourself a simple question - Should I Paint My Vintage Bicycle?

If you still feel the same way, go for it but be forewarned - it is not as easy (or inexpensive) as you might think!

Kevindale

The bike looks pretty good in those photos. What about the current paint and decals bugs you enough to go to this trouble and expense? For a lot of older bikes, the superficial scars of their long and busy lives adds to their appeal.