Paramount PDG Clearcoat Project
 

Have a 1991 Paramount PDG, one of the one with the "splatter" paint jobs. Was never a big fan:https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...c5159329d7.jpg

Paint stripped. Got a little carried away with a wire brush, but I wasn't planning a clearcoat then, just a rattlecan job done to perfection. The welds on the Paramount really impressed me, but the quality of the rattlecan paint did not.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1dc1aa9dd6.jpg

So I went with a powdercoat in "clear". Preserved all the welds perfectly:

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...0e4e86f109.jpg

I love the champagne gold color of the Tange OS steel. I got the idea seeing a Waterford Paramount painted gun metal grey. I thought, "Hey that's the natural color of the tubing they're trying to recreate. Why not just clearcoat it it?"

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...0f854e9f6c.jpg

You can see every weld, and pretty much see how good a day the guy who brazed the bike was having that day. Decals applied:

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a927129bd5.jpg

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...c8a16bfed1.jpg

Velocals screw-up. I complained about the gold missing from the outside of the World Championship logo. They corrected me and said they were "Olympic bands" and offered to replace the letter "M" only.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1f283cf4b1.jpg

Assembled and ready to ride:

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3f3f7c5128.jpg

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...0f632bea29.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...76e0abae44.jpg

Would love to try this with other models, to see how the brazing compares. Maybe a Waterford Paramount. Or a Bianchi. Or any brand really, I love this look.

I'm working on a similar project right now. That clear looks nice - especially the close-up shot of the headlugs! Very nice final result :)

Here's some "brazing comparison" for you (I did my Colnago in a similar manner a year or so ago):

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...bda2be58c8.jpg

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...e57b3e643c.jpg

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...e01db69502.jpg

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...4c376e6da1.jpg

DD

I probably would not have chosen white for the decals but seeing them on there makes me think you made the right choice. That is sharp.

That is really cool, does the ride equal the cool look?
I think the PDG paramount got a bad rap based mostly on the forks.

looking good in the Raw

Hmmm, Mine has black, not gold. This was a Waterford repaint/decal job.


https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...359d039347.jpg



https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3c6736c62b.jpg

Nice job by the way.

That turned out excellent. The quality of the materials and workmanship really shines though. I guess Colnagos are worth the premium after all.

Below is a frame I'm working on now, it's a 1986 Univega Gran Rally, that was built by Miyata under contract, with Miyata triple butted tubing. Supposed to be identical to a Miyata 912. The spoon-shaped seatstays are the same, and the lugs look the same as well.

Trying to polish it up before it goes to the powdercoater and sprayed clear.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...6a1ffbaff1.jpg

You can see some of the machining marks on the tubing. This steel is fun to work with, it's hardened so that you can polish it up to a mirror finish. It's difficult to tell from the photo, but I have those seatstays every bit as shiny as chrome plating. The fork is high ten steel, and it doesn't polish up nearly as nice, it has more of a dull finish. You can see the nauseating shade of pink this bike used to be. That pink had to go.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f8df0c4fac.jpg

I really like how this turned out. How is it holding up? I've seen it claimed here that clear powdercoat invariably develops "spiderweb" rust underneath the surface (though why clear should behave differently than any other powdercoat is a mystery to me).

If yours stays looking this good, I'm definitely going with clear first time I get the chance.

I have a 92 PDG, thankfully repainted, and then repainted again by me. I think the unicrown forks on those things make the bike. I love the look.

I'm keeping an eye on mine. The thing that worries me is that usually items get sandblasted before powdercoating, to ensure a good bond when the beads are applied.

My frame was semi-polished, so it's anyone's guess how well the powdercoating will adhere. Fingers crossed. I too, read the ominous internet threads discussing all the horrible things that will happen if you clear powdercoat a bike frame. I live in a very dry area and almost never ride in the rain, so I have that going for me. Bike is not stored outside either.

We shall see.

While a clear coat is not my style, I really like the fact that someone tried it. It shows off the lug work nicely. And it's distinctive, and probably gets more than a few looks and questions when you ride. So, bravo! Thanks for sharing.

That thing is beautiful

The PDG (Tange) forks were most likely Prestige, just easier for Tange to do things that way. They may be been unicrown, and a fashion faux pas, but they were excellent forks.

This seems to be all the rage these days.

Its a nice option to a re-paint when the paint on our old bikes is gone. And cheaper! I love seeing the brazing as well.

Hey, even the amazing (custom mix Prestige-tubed) Davidson Impulse has a quasi-unicrown fork! Rides like a really fast, well-responding dream. The unicrown fork on your PDG looks just fine, if quite natural. And really, the whole visual composition of that bike is lovely!

I always wanted a frame finished like that

Beautiful work!

I may consider this on my next "project".

there is most likely a spiderweb of rust under most powder coating, but if the powdercoat is opaque, you can't see it. The spiderweb is only a problem if the powdercoat starts coming up because of it.

I have seen a report of the rust under one of the clear coated bromptons. Those frames are sandblasted before coating, so that rules out sandblasting as a cure. I'm curious how the Vanilla clear coated Speedvagens are holding up. haven't heard anything about them.