Jtgyk

...a simple build. You know, the kind where you have a frame sitting around that's, maybe, Juuuust a bit small for you but you could still ride. In this case, its a 1992 trek 720 19" frame (actually measures 20") that is scratched and the paint is a little scabby...but it's a good frame, all in all.

Parts shouldn't be a problem...I've got some parts to strip off another frame and have others in my parts cabinet.

But..."oh, look! A complete group on Ebay. It's going cheap....may as well bid (I probably won't win it anyway)"
SURPRISE!
"You win!"

First I cleaned the frame (somewhat...let's face it...it'll never look spectacular).
Remove, clean, and lube the headset. (Pesky bearing! Where did it land?)
Buy new bearing at LBS and re-install headset.
The bottom bracket feels sticky. I'll just take it off and replace it.
Oops! That little sucker is frozen on! After a trip to the LBS (they couldn't get it off either) I finally get a pipe clamp and get enough pressure on the BB tool that it doesn't slip out of the splines And with a big wrench, a hammer, and not a little bit swearing and skinned knuckles later, I finally get that little sucker out.
....and I need a new BB as the other BB's I have are 110 mm and this one is 122 mm.
back to the LBS I go.
I come back from the shop to find my package from EBAY has arrived.
Holy Crap! The crank set and front derailleur have never been mounted! The shifters and rear der are used but very minty. Everything kind of makes the frame look a little ratty.

So friends, that is where you find me.
Contemplating sand blasting and powder coating the frame and fork.
....I've started giggling and talking to myself...
.........There are strange facial tics and eye twitches thrown in for good measure.

I still have a good enough grasp on reality that no powder coating will occur until I've put the whole thing together and ride it to see if I'll keep it.

It really was supposed to be a simple build with spare parts I had laying about.

Now I still have all these extra parts....

Maybe I should build another bike....?

funrover 

LOL That is awesome, I understand how that goes!

Nola_Gal

Love it! Can't wait to see it!

Richard_Rides

Powder coat it now! You know you will eventually anyway...

cyclist2000

Thats so funny!!!!

I got an Eisentraut frame on ebay, thought that I would use spare parts too. It took 650c wheels, couldn't use the old drive train. Ended up reusing bars and brake handlesbars, post and seat. But now I have a traut.

Photos at https://www.flickr.com/photos/busterc...n/photostream/

CliftonGK1

A tip I learned for stuck bottom brackets and slipping splined tools:
Use a rear wheel QR skewer through the BB spindle and the spline tool to hold the sucker in place and keep it from slipping.

Looking forward to the build up pix!

Jtgyk

Heh

I was going to try that one...but it was solid not hollow. If Id had a bolt long enough I could have bolted the BB tool on.
As they say....necessity is a mother...

Actually, the clamp worked really well.

iqbal624

I vote that you just bid on a "cheap" frame on eBay and be done with it.
that's where I'm at now. I bought a bike. Then almost a complete group to upgrade the bike, now I'm looking for a frame to build a bike for the wifey. even though the plan was to sell the other parts to help pay for the parts I did buy.
Oh well...
This way you get the frame you want and save $$ on powder coating!!

Jtgyk

But then I still have the original frame from my post and the parts to (almost) build up another bike.
I've gotta either build it or sell/give away the parts to reclame my workspace.

iqbal624

Then you should just build the bike with the spare parts you have and throw it up on craigslist.

or just sell/give away the parts you already had.

A new frame for you just (IMO) completes this bike the way you really want to.

Jtgyk

Forgot to put in the <tongue firmly in cheek> at the beginning of my comment.
If the bike is a magnificent ride for me, I'll probably keep it.
If not (depending on whether I feel I can at least break even) I'll either sell it with the new parts, or transfer the new parts to my backup bike (a 21", 1999 trek 700), put the older parts on this bike, and sell it.

I find it amusing how I manage to start with something simple and have it snowball into all these extra projects.
"Oh, the Humanity!

jyossarian

Strip it yourself and do a good rattlecan job. You know you want to.

thirdgenbird

haha i just had those same experiences but on two bikes. one was going to be fixed gear trainer/commuter built with "spare parts" but when i was done i bought more than intended and now i am debating powder coating it as well. the other was a retro rebuild that i had to use a pipe wrench to get the bottom bracket out of (no frame damage) fortunately that one used a lot of the spare parts, but now i feel guilty for what i payed for basically a frame, wheels, saddle, and bars (only thing left on the bike)

i still have enough parts (and a frame) laying around that i could build yet another bike. it never ends...

Jtgyk

I could make it my multi-colored, hippy-dippy, peace & love, tie dye project!
....or maybe I can completely encrust it with rhinestones (for ultimate reflectivity)....or let my daughter, THE ARTIST, loose on it. (I like the hippy bike idea)
Maybe high rise bars....
OOOOooooo! Me like!
This is gettin' better and better.
Now I just have to put the parts on and hope they all play nice, before playing with the paint.

Jtgyk

(Music swells)

"It's the Ciiiiiiircle of Liiiiiiiiife......."

hee hee

Jtgyk

OK folks, It's Picture time.

First the frame:


Front (note the semi-peeling decals and chipped paint):


The Rear Triangle:


New cranks (the bit sticking out is protective plastic that got caught in crank bolt) and Front Der:


Here's the crankset I was going to use before (somehow the rust isn't showing up well in the pic):


Rear Der (slightly scraped, but still shiny):


The whole thing with handlebars/ sans shifters:


That's as far as I got as our temps started dropping and I couldn't feel my fingers anymore. It's Cold in Texas so Hell must be freezing over again.

jyossarian

I was thinking more along the lines of matte black using bbq paint, but the Merry Pranksters look works too.

Jtgyk

Actually, once I started getting the stuff put on the frame, it didn't look so bad...brings to mind Charlie Brown's Christmas tree.
I may have to save the paint for another frame.

I'll go with flat bars for now though I have some old drops and Suntour bar ends to try too.

The rings look too far away from the frame so I'll probably have to switch the BB for an shorter spindle (110 or 113 at least I already have a couple of those) as I didn't know that certain cranks determine the length you need (finally found the reference on Sheldon's site.) They must have had different cranks on it before.

Mr. Beanz

I like the color!

MikeWinVA

I would just wet sand the chips to level it and rattle can it. If you wet sand the rattle can finish when it is cured with 1000 and 1500 grit, and rub it out with compound, it will look like a pro paint job.

txvintage

Heh, it's good thing Jtgyk doesn't live any closer than he does already and our work hours are totally weird.

My game room is living this nightmare as we speak. I will have a new steed to post up shortly as well now that the headset and fork are as one with the frame.

Hint: It ain't steel.

Neil_B

Let me guess - bamboo?

Neil_B

Very nice. I was concerned when I read the subject line that this was another thread about a snake encounter. :-)

txvintage

Nyet Comrade Historianov. Although that would be cool, indeed.

It's not gonna make me any faster, but it will look marvelous with me riding it. Well, in 4 more weeks when the doc releases me to do more than soft pedal around the block

rideorglide

Sorry for the dumb question but what kind of sand paper works best for the initial stages of wet sanding out the chips (and rust?)