Need Advice on Refinishing a Frame
07-04-18 | 01:44 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 28
Likes: 17
From: Upstate NY
Need Advice on Refinishing a Frame
I’ve had a frame hanging on my garage wall for years. It’s a Falcon San Remo that I bought when I was in college in the mid 70’s. I rode a lot of miles on it through the early 80’s; I was pretty strong back then, so the 531 straight gauge suited me. I retired the bike in favor of an aluminum Cannondale, but never parted with it.
Lately I’ve been thinking about rebuilding it with some of the stuff I have lying around. The first step would be to restore some semblance of the original Falcon colors, which were primarily powder blue with (I think) contrasting paint on the head and bottom-bracket lugs.
Here’s my question ... what’s the current state of the art in repainting a frame? I had figured I’d have to hand strip it, hit it with a couple coats of self-etching primer, then go from there. Is that the best way to go? Are chemical strippers or sandblasting an option? I’d appreciate any advice ... TIA.
Lately I’ve been thinking about rebuilding it with some of the stuff I have lying around. The first step would be to restore some semblance of the original Falcon colors, which were primarily powder blue with (I think) contrasting paint on the head and bottom-bracket lugs.
Here’s my question ... what’s the current state of the art in repainting a frame? I had figured I’d have to hand strip it, hit it with a couple coats of self-etching primer, then go from there. Is that the best way to go? Are chemical strippers or sandblasting an option? I’d appreciate any advice ... TIA.
07-04-18 | 02:45 PM
#4
On Holiday
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 1,013
Likes: 15
Bikes: A bunch of old steel bikes
I generally shave as much paint off with a single edge razor blade as I can, the wire brush. I have a sandblaster but no booth and it's way to messy for me. I will use chemical strippers on those hard to reach places like the seat lug and bottom bracket, but that's it - again too messy. Following that, I just repair any dings, add braze-ons maybe, and then file ugly parts (all frames seem to have blobs of brazing filler left during manufacturing), finally a good sanding. Painting is something that needs a different thread.
07-04-18 | 02:55 PM
#5
Bike Butcher of Portland
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 12,486
Likes: 8,054
From: Portland, OR
Bikes: It's complicated.
All depends on how much you want to spend. Media blasting should only be done by someone who paints/powder coats bike frames. I've got a guy who will do it for $40 who does powder coating of bikes.
[MENTION=457988]Hoopdriver[/MENTION]'s method sounds as good as you need. Dings can be filled with JB weld, let it set overnight, then carefully file/sand it round.
[MENTION=457988]Hoopdriver[/MENTION]'s method sounds as good as you need. Dings can be filled with JB weld, let it set overnight, then carefully file/sand it round.
__________________
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
07-04-18 | 03:43 PM
#6
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 63
Likes: 10
From: Holly Springs, NC
Bikes: 1998 Marinoni Leggero, 1988 Tommasini Super Prestige, 2018 Holdsworth Competition, 1996-ish Redline Cross Bike
How difficult is it to media blast a frame but not touch the chrome on seat/chainstays? Just mask it off maybe?
07-04-18 | 05:40 PM
#7
Calamari Marionette Ph.D
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 7,861
Likes: 41
From: Coeur d' Alene
Bikes: 3 Chinese Gas Pipe Nerdcycles and 2 Chicago Electroforged Boat Anchors
07-05-18 | 12:25 AM
#8
mycocyclist
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 1,319
Likes: 994
From: Monkey Junction, Wilmington, NC
Bikes: 1964 Schwinn Paramount P-13 DeLuxe, 1964 Schwinn Sport Super Sport, 1972 Falcon San Remo, 1974 Maserati MT-1, 1974 Raleigh International, 1984 Lotus Odyssey, 198? Rossin Ghibli, 1990 LeMond Le Vanquer (sic), 1991 Specialized Allez Transition Pro, +
Birds Of A Feather?
I’ve had a frame hanging on my garage wall for years. It’s a Falcon San Remo that I bought when I was in college in the mid 70’s. I rode a lot of miles on it through the early 80’s; I was pretty strong back then, so the 531 straight gauge suited me. I retired the bike in favor of an aluminum Cannondale, but never parted with it.
Lately I’ve been thinking about rebuilding it with some of the stuff I have lying around. The first step would be to restore some semblance of the original Falcon colors, which were primarily powder blue with (I think) contrasting paint on the head and bottom-bracket lugs.
Here’s my question ... what’s the current state of the art in repainting a frame? I had figured I’d have to hand strip it, hit it with a couple coats of self-etching primer, then go from there. Is that the best way to go? Are chemical strippers or sandblasting an option? I’d appreciate any advice ... TIA.
Lately I’ve been thinking about rebuilding it with some of the stuff I have lying around. The first step would be to restore some semblance of the original Falcon colors, which were primarily powder blue with (I think) contrasting paint on the head and bottom-bracket lugs.
Here’s my question ... what’s the current state of the art in repainting a frame? I had figured I’d have to hand strip it, hit it with a couple coats of self-etching primer, then go from there. Is that the best way to go? Are chemical strippers or sandblasting an option? I’d appreciate any advice ... TIA.
I don't want to hijack your thread. I will be opening one for this bike, and if I can find a "Show Me Your Falcon" thread, I'll post to that eventually, too.
I'd sure like to see pictures of your bike!
Last edited by machinist42; 07-05-18 at 12:32 AM.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
polymorphself
Classic & Vintage
10
10-03-18 08:35 AM
