Before I attempt this, do any of you have any tips you care to share on the subject. I've got the instructions the decal maker provided, but I was thinking more along the lines of tips and tricks to help me make the decals symmetrical on both sides of the frame.

Any ideas would be appreciated. They weren't cheap and I'm kinda OCD. It'll drive me nuts if they're not aligned with each other.

TIA,
Eric

I used magnetic seamstres (sp) type tape with metric markings,a fine tip marker, masking tape,string and ALOT of measuring to do the layout first.

I've tended to use thin, 1/8 inch, strips of removable tape, like blue masking, to use as register marks. Use a straight edge on the down tube, for instance, to get the center line of the tube, and place thin strips of tape on the center line. Also place thin strips of tape around the circumference of the tube to check proper alignment of decals on opposite sides of the tube. Use as many reference marks of tape as you need to set up center lines, using lug points as guide to find it.

I would measure, then mark with a dry erase the ends and finally box everything out with painters tape. Do a basic frame in painters tape. That will give you a grid or window to follow and if thats straight your decals should be also.

I got a nice lesson from Doug Fattic when I was doing my name on my frame. This will not work for all decal applying. He said you don't want lettering to be positioned directly centered on the downtube. Being that when you look at the artwork on a downtube your looking down at it and not eye level. So the artwork will be closer together on the top and further apart on the underside of the downtube. I noticed this also when I did my Sports Tourer. After I looked at it as I position it to be centered on the tube you couldn't really read it unless you got down to look at it at eye level to the downtube. Lesson learned. But how one builder does it to the next is something you can't really go off of this with if you want it to be completely original.

Thanks folks. I went out today and bought some pens and tape and started marking off distances with a ruler and calipers and I noticed that I need to find a way to secure the bike at more comfortable and stable working angles so I think I'll stop until I can get a decent bike repair stand. Things were just to wobbly.

Eric