First timers question
 

Hi there,

New to this. I am just about to start restoring an old Raleigh Clubman circa 1950 - I think. It has Weinman 500 and 750 brakes and thats about all I know. I am taking the componentry off and will tidy them up. Then its the frame to get back to its shop state.

Any tips will be mush appreciated. I may have a few questions along the way.

Here's one - Is it best to take the components to a metal restorer, or is this the sort of thing i can do my self with an off the shelf product?

Cheers,
R&C

The toll you must pay to the troll around here is photographic. Give us pics of your bike--body shots and closeups. Try to locate the serial number (unless you're sure about the date).

Most parts you can easily clean up (the rust and crust, as it were) and polish. Unless the parts are really in rough shape, people around here (bloody moralizing purists) are unlikely to recommend that you submit them to re-chroming. We're all in favor of polish, though.

Re repainting: As for the frame, unless the paint is TOTALLY trashed, someone is going to tell you this: It's only original once.

Welcome to C&V! People are really nice here. They say so themselves: http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=526913

Let's see some pics of your bike, and we'll talk turkey about restoration.

take pictures before you take it apart so you know how to put it back together. It sounds dumb but there's gonna be some little thing that you're like "Now what the hell is this for?" at the end. Plus we'd love to see it.

A dremel tool and some kind of metal polish is the way to go with the brakes and levers and such, everyone seems to have a favorite polish. I like SimiChrome. For the Frame you should give polishing it up a shot before you decide it needs new paint, unless you have your heart set on repainting it.

I look forward to pics. I have a 1950 Clubman in pretty poor shape and haven't started cleaning it up (pic below). I figure oxalic acid for the chrome/bright parts and lots of polishing for the rest. The frame has gone from the original "flamboyant blue" to a muddy brown. And those Weinmann brakes wouldn't have been on the original--they'd be GB sidepulls.

Neal

http://web.mit.edu/nlerner/Public/Bikes/50Clubman1.jpg

That's a cool bike!

Naval jelly, the wood bleach, steel wool or a wire wheel will remove the rust, depending on condition. Mineral spirits and a tooth brush will remove the crusty grease. Steel wool and Simichrome or a buffing wheel will polish aluminum. Rubbing compound and paste wax can bring back the shine to the paint.

Clean the bearing and repack with white grease, a little Brooks leather conditioner on the seat.

New cables, housing and rubber is always nice...