Frame resprays

Im considering buying a nice 531 Geoffrey Butler racing bike, but at some point someone has sanded
the decals off the downtube for whatever reason. As you can imagine it looks a bit of a mess. They
left the head tube sticker and the 531 sticker on the frame and forks on though. Incidentally, the
fork crowns are stamped 'Reynolds'. I've never seen that before, anyone know anything about that?

So what do people recommend? I gather I can get a really proffessional job done at Bob Jackson for
50 quid, but as thats half the price of the bike I'd be reluctant to do that.

Are there cheaper places about, or can I do it myself? I thought it would probably look a bit of a
mess if I just use normal spray paint....

Any suggestions / pointers would be gratefully accepted

cheers,
--
-Alex

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alexpg@btinternet.com www.westerleycycling.org.uk http://alexpg.ath.cx:3353/cycling.php
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Alex Graham wrote:

> Im considering buying a nice 531 Geoffrey Butler racing bike, but at some point someone has sanded
> the decals off the downtube for whatever reason. As you can imagine it looks a bit of a mess. They
> left the head tube sticker and the 531 sticker on the frame and forks on though. Incidentally, the
> fork crowns are stamped 'Reynolds'. I've never seen that before, anyone know anything about that?
>
> So what do people recommend? I gather I can get a really proffessional job done at Bob Jackson for
> 50 quid, but as thats half the price of the bike I'd be reluctant to do that.

50 quid sounds like good value to me. The cheapest I know of who do a good job is 60 quid.

> Are there cheaper places about, or can I do it myself? I thought it would probably look a bit of a
> mess if I just use normal spray paint....

Not as much of a mess as the stealth bike I've been painting today - brush painted black hammerite
for that "no point in stealing me" look.

> Any suggestions / pointers would be gratefully accepted

If you want it to look good, its either practice yourself for ages or get a professional to do it.
If you're considering buying it, consider negotiating with the seller to knock some money off or ask
them to sort it before they sell it to you, unless it really is a steal of a bargain.

--
Jim Price

http://www.jimprice.dsl.pipex.com

Conscientious objection is hard work in an economic war.

In message <bfmrml$ns8$1@sparta.btinternet.com>, Alex Graham <alexpg@btinternet.dot.com> writes
>Im considering buying a nice 531 Geoffrey Butler racing bike, but at some point someone has sanded
>the decals off the downtube for whatever reason. As you can imagine it looks a bit of a mess.

>So what do people recommend? I gather I can get a really proffessional job done at Bob Jackson for
>50 quid, but as thats half the price of the bike I'd be reluctant to do that.
>
>Are there cheaper places about,

Probably not much cheaper for stove enamelling, AIUI, powder coating is cheaper.

>or can I do it myself? I thought it would probably look a bit of a mess if I just use normal spray
>paint....
>

You can do it yourself, and get a good job, I did it about 15 years ago. I painted it standard car
aerosol paints.

I stripped the frame with paint stripper, then standard painting techniques, primer, couple of coats
of undercoat, a few coats of top coat - rub down gently between each coat with very fine wet n' dry
or very fine wire wool and wipe down..

It did look very good, but the finish isn't that hard wearing so it did chip soon and more than
professional refinishing.
--
Chris French, Leeds