Been doing some research after picking up a project Casati frame yesterday. The period-correct decal set is available on Ebay but the head tube decal is totally wrong and the font is off a bit on the seat tube decal. I am a stickler for accuracy (nah-really?) of aesthetic, so I'm planning on getting a second-generation decal set instead:



This is the auction/seller in question: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Casati-Monz...53.m1438.l2649

Has anyone bought decals from Neill Shankland before? Any feedback? I am looking for the type in which the letters are separate and not simply printed on a large piece of clear vinyl, necessitating the cutting out each and every letter. No thank you. To me, that's a cheap way to produce decals for restorative purposes.

Thanks in advance for any and all responses.

DD

Call him:
Atlantic Boulevard

also:
https://www.bicycledecals.net/

Yes, under his old business name, prior to the employee that took off with his graphics. Not a bicycle set, but several of the various frame steel decals. Great products, and a good ebay seller. Recommended here.

Bill

Thanks for the website links. I believe this is the same person I got a set of Somec decals from way back. I was a bit disappointed in those as the downtube decals were white-backed (impossible to tell from his pics). It does appear on some of his decals they are individual letters. If these are I will go with them. I emailed him and am waiting for a response.

DD

Bill, what decals did you purchase from him?

DD

I bought some Holdsworth decals from Neill, and the letters are separate, but applied via a carrier sheet. I was not planning on clearing them over, but I'm a little worried as they are a little thicker than I expected, and I'm concerned about catching the edges during use. Haven't even finished building up the bike, so I don't have a further report as this time. But I am pleased with the overall quality of what I bought. The set even included a HT decal, which i didn't need as I have the metal original.

Edit: the ones I bought were the n.5 Holdsworth that he has on ebay; I can see that some of the other Holdsworth decals come as a sheet & background as one.

I’ve bought a few Columbus decals from this seller and have been very happy with the quality.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Casati-Monz...0AAOSw4s9XlLui

The link decals illustrate my concern: is that just one big sheet? A perusal of the description gives no clue.

I fully believe the graphics quality may well be spot-on; in the case of a single Columbus decal, no problem. But I'm looking for original layout, single letters and the ebay seller in question seems to produce at least some of these types of decals. Others seem to be printed on one sheet, requiring one to cut each letter out separately for an original look. A lot of extra work.

DD

DD,
I got the Tubi Reinforzi original tubing for the frame and fork decals. There is a guy, Gus Salmon, in Winter Park, FL that does water slide decals, also. He is on ebay also and his stuff is top quality. Check on his store and contact him about custom decals.

Neill has some good products, you should contact him about your issues first, IMHO.

G'luk with the project, not post some pictures quickly.

Bill

I am currently working with World Cycle Decals now on an apparently obscure Holdsworth decal that nobody else on the planet seems to have. They have been very pleasant, professional and accommodating thus far and since I'm painting the entire frame, I was considering purchasing a set of Holdsworth decals from them as they have a varied selection and it just kinda makes sense that since I'm ordering a custom decal, I might as well give the rest of the job to them.
[MENTION=107655]Ex Pres[/MENTION], I am interested in hearing how your Holdsworth project shakes out and if the decals are too thick, I'd like to know that up front so I can potentially request thinner upon purchase. Please do private message me when your paint project wraps up!

Also, I believe Rudi has used World Cycle Decals. Right [MENTION=73614]rhm[/MENTION]?

If it's the "Record" decal Gus Salmon made one up for me from my degraded decal pics, so he has it ready to go. I couldn't find it readily available anywhere.

And as far as the decal thickness, when time permits I'm going to experiment with a wipe-on poly to see if that's an option covering the decals w/o going to a full clear-over.

Without hijacking this thread, I can say it is not the "Record" decal but a top tube decal for a Super Mistral. Everyone seems puzzled by this one. I had tried Gus for some other decals and didn't have luck with him but this might fit his wheelhouse more so thanks for the suggestion.

Heard back from Neill this morning and he confirmed that the set I was thinking of getting indeed has separate-cut letters. Good deal. Purchase made; now to prep my frame

Thanks for the feedback everyone!

DD

I used a tailor's (cloth) measuring tape to illustrate the actual dimensions when taking pics of my degraded decal. It's much better than using a ruler. Your wife probably has one, if you don't.

[MENTION=107655]Ex Pres[/MENTION] Let us know how that goes, please. I have a couple of projects that could use that approach.

Before you get excited:
1. Can says for interior/light use only
2. It's made for wood furniture

But, I gave it a try anyway. Minwax Wipe-on Poly. It's not water-based, so I figure it has something going for it. I got the idea from a web search, ran across guitar refinishers that were using this as a coating over the same paint (an "anodizing" spray paint) I used for the TT, ST and DT panels on my frame.

So, I applied two coats at first, no pre- or in-between prep, so a little variance from label. I found a paper towel was working better for me than an old t-shirt. One warning, my paper towel got a little pink haze with the first coat, I assume from the red outlines on my letters. I couldn't find from where, though. After that first coat sealed them up, no pink in the second wipe.

After two coats, I buffed with a microfiber towel. It does reduce the edges on the decals that concerned me, without looking like anything has really been applied. I decided to add a third coat, and it reduced the edge a little further. I also applied this over one water-slide decal without issue.

I would take a picture, but there's not really much to see that's different before/after. Which is what I wanted. I'm going to let it dry well, probably a week or so, then give the whole frame a good wax. The can does not mention waxing either yea or nay. I'll try a small panel first.

Digging through emails, I uncovered some advice from the well-revered Gus Salmon and advice on clear coating decals by hand. He mentions there is a clear applicant made by Microscale Industries named Micro Gloss that one can brush over a decal if a frame isn't being resprayed to help lock the decal in place and protect it.

Thanks, [MENTION=107655]Ex Pres[/MENTION] and [MENTION=178668]The Thin Man[/MENTION]. I'm encouraged.