So I love my frame (riv legolas) and the color and what not but the durability of the paint job is starting to make baby jesus cry. The thing is only about 1 1/2 years old and already it’s got a bunch of chips and scratches in the paint. The Klein mountain bike that I had for 6+ years held up better than this and I’m pretty sure it just had a cheapo factory paint job.
So do any of you have experience getting a lugged frame powdercoated? I guess the temp they bake the frame at is well above the melting point of silver so that shouldn’t be a problem. I was going to go with Spectrum but after reading this thread, http://www.bikeforums.net/archive/index.php/t-231724.html, there’s no way. Any other recommendations?
yes you can, but you will loose a bit of lug definition.
i.e the lug-tube transition will look like it melts together after pcoating rather than a clearly defined boundary, which is what you see with wet paint.
generally, lugged frames aren’t pcoated b/c what i wrote above, but it’s certainly your bike, so do as you please.
[quote=“biekridder”]yes you can, but you will loose a bit of lug definition.
i.e the lug-tube transition will look like it melts together after pcoating rather than a clearly defined boundary, which is what you see with wet paint.
generally, lugged frames aren’t pcoated b/c what i wrote above, but it’s certainly your bike, so do as you please.[/quote]
I was aware of the loss of definition but I’m not sure I really care. It’d have to depend on just how much of a loss. My frame is about as ornate/bling-y as I’d go so I wouldn’t be crushed if it wasn’t as overt.
oh, a quality pcoat (not a $60 one at a local autobody shop) will minimize definition loss.
also, a quality wet-paint job will be better than what you have now, but pcoat will always be stronger. look into immron paint. truly some amazing stuff.
in any event, be prepared to drop $200 on a quality wet/powder coat when all is said and done.
rivendell’s paint is a bit thin/soft. my pre-rivendell bridgestone is the same way.
[quote=“biekridder”]oh, a quality pcoat (not a $60 one at a local autobody shop) will minimize definition loss.
also, a quality wet-paint job will be better than what you have now, but pcoat will always be stronger. look into immron paint. truly some amazing stuff.
in any event, be prepared to drop $200 on a quality wet/powder coat when all is said and done.
rivendell’s paint is a bit thin/soft. my pre-rivendell bridgestone is the same way.[/quote]
When I pulled it out of the box the paint did have a slight amount of give, sort of how thick paint feels when it’s not completely dry all the way through. But I was under the impression that the non-Japanese Riv. frames (and the custom Rivs) were done with wet-paint by some guy in California – not quite as good as Joe Bell but a whole lot cheaper and faster.
Anyways, durability is my main concern. I’m not thrilled about shelling out money for a paint/powder job but I’ll do it since I’m going to have this frame for a long time.
Any ideas on what Acme Paint in Portland uses?
This place just opened on Leary.
http://www.seattlepowdercoat.com/
Charles at Wright Brothers hooked me up with a card. Supposedly their prices are pretty good. I’m considering having my Davidson done because the paint is seriously worked over from locking it up and generally beating on it for the last 7 years.
I talked with a painter I met on that “other” forum and he told me powder comes off pretty easily with the right chemical strip, so if they fuck it up it’s not a huge deal.
If you’re interested in seeing if we can get a price break on a few frames send me a PM. It will be a few weeks before I’ll really have time/money to do something like this though.
I might throw my Redline frame into the mix too (if I decide to build it up).
I’d go with Seattle Powder Coat if they do a good job but I was think more along the lines of hitting the parentals up for the powdercoating as a x-mas present. But if you or others wanted to do a group buy around then I’d do it.
Winter would actually work out well for me. I have some debt to pay off and I won’t really feel much like giving this bike the restoration it deserves until the weather gets crappy anyway.