... of the bike painting police.

Okay, not quite, but the right chain stay was pretty bad, so it got a total repaint, nice thing about Tremclad it doesn't have to be 100% rust free first. Getting all the nicks and scratches though, I've probably covered more of the frame then has original paint now. It looks pretty good, and most of the components cleaned up well, so once I get everything back together it should be pretty good.

I'd rather be wanted by the paint police than by the rust liability police.

I guess the fact that gets me forgiveness on this, is that drew isn't getting anywhere near this bike

Ehhh...say a few Hail Merckx's just to be safe

I guess the real question now, is should I give the paint a week to harden up, or start putting stuff back on. I put the bars and saddle back on just to be able to flip it over and do the parts that were not that visible from the top side. Paint work is complete now though, so I need to get to the bike shop this week for the consumables (cables, tubes, brake pads, bar tape, etc.) I figure that the total financial outlay will be about $60, and about 30 hours of my time..... Thinking my MTB at 6 years old, could probably use a tear down next year....

I'd personally let it harden, particularly given 30 hours of your time already.

Actually I have about 20 hours in, 16 hours to take everything apart, clean and inspect, 4 to deal with the paint, and another 10 to get it all put back together, tuned and tested. Having said about the MTB, I would like to find another road bike clunker, either a mixte or a 52cm max, as next years rebuild project, for the missus, then rebuild her Hybrid the following year, and my MTB the year after that. I think all bikes need a tear down every 10 years or so...