Touch-up paint, or leave the scars of time?
 

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This is probably the first time I've been at this cross-roads in my vintage-collecting experience. I cleaned up the rust as best I could with Evapo-rust. Aesthetically, I am indifferent. This PX-10 will never be a pristine show piece. (I don't even care for "wall hanger" beauties. Heresy, I know.) Maybe, from a preservation approach, I should touch-up to prevent further deterioration?

On that one, I'd repaint it. Those metallic colors are extremely difficult to match, since they're a candy-color over a specific color primer. I've had some good results though on one, but it took forever. The colors can't be matched with just using a similar color, you need to mix gold and silver metallic paint (Testors enamel paint set) together as your base, then add in the blue until you reach the correct shade. Note that it will darker up a bit from what you mix, so it's a LOT of trial-and-error. Even with an exact match for the final paint color, you'll end up with a different sheen to the touched-up spots, and your results will probably look like a leopard in the sun, from that many spots needing paint. Your best bet is a repaint, you'll be much happier.

I would powder coat that and forget about it. Powder coaters will typically give you a media blast for free.it won't look original but it will look a lot better than it does now.

I think that's too nice a Bike to have Powder Coated. The PC will get lost in the nice lug work.
I would strip it bare and Paint it.

+1 This is what I would do as well

As regards your 3 poll choices, none of the above. The problems with those three have been outlined by previous posters so just get it media blasted and re-sprayed, not powder coated.

No way I am sinking the kind of money it takes to get a repaint, not on this bike.

Try doing it yourself.

I think you have to tell us what the bike will be used for. Are you going for a city commuter that will be locked up to a rack or pole? If so, leave it alone, ride it, and let it rust away. It would probably takes years to turn to dust.

Aesthetics are important to me and I wouldn't ride a bike or own one in this shape. Not trying to be a snob(I hope!), its just MHO. I'd rather spend more on a decent condition frame than go through the hassles of painting, touching-up or powder coating. So that said, I would likely powder coat the frame to make it presentable.

Just get rid of the rust, and nail polish the metal. Evening out the damage to the paint job, matching that shade and tone of paint, and doing that job well would not be worth the trouble for that bike, and it's just likely to get all dinged up again. It's a bike. It has history. It's a messy world we live in, wear the scars proudly.

I like what Happy Feet has done here: 26" Frankenbike gravel build... just because I could. If I had a bike in the condition of yours I'd give it a go.

This goes WAY beyond "patina", and into "abuse" territory. Go to a hobby shop, get something that's at least close and cover up all that bare metal!

DIY strip and paint. Accept any mistakes as partly learning and having fun.

+1 for DIY strip and paint. it's too far gone. Original finish is great to have, but not at the cost of a damaged frame.

Though I am loathe to paint a bike, the paint damage to the Peugeot will be extremely difficult to touch up well. And, if not done properly, the result will look like a disease of some kind. Too many damaged areas. Were it me, I would protect the bare spots until I got around to a full paint job. That has always been my plan for the Legnano but I know that I can paint it anytime as the bike is not showing any surface rust...
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...227ecd524b.jpg

You will love the PX10, at least I love mine...
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...6744618d99.jpg

And my first PX10 sported horrible paint, so I painted it with a brush...
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...6eec0c0f25.jpg

Matching the original paint close enough to have the result not look like a bike with the measles is quite difficult, IME. I usually leave the paint alone. A bike should look its age.

The only time I've done a partial paint job was when I had a matching fork in the wrong color. I had had paint matched and mixed at a local DIY store, repainted the fork by hand with a brush to make sure the finish didn't look too new, and re-lined the lugs to blend it in. I didn't dare touch the spots and scratches on the frame though.

Before:

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3a200a1909.jpg

After:

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...87631e6333.jpg

WRT to your question: I voted somewhat prematurely "Leave it as-is", but in this particular case I'd probably follow [MENTION=84826]randyjawa[/MENTION]'s strategy and get a can of paint and a brush and repaint the bike.

You could also get some gold or other colour paint and go for something along the idea of Kintsugi and not worry about having to try and match the original paint, more than likely touch-ups will stand out so might as well make it stand out :)

Agreed. This also has the benefit of not being especially complicated to respray, and have looking like a million bucks.

...or, sell it on to someone who'd be up to repainting it, and buy one in slightly better condition.

Hear! hear!. Bikes are for riding, any condition. I think the route is protecting, best I can, and just riding it.