Frame restoration... how much is worthwhile?

Hello, i be a newby... although have been reading for a bit. Good to meet you all and hope you can help?

I am trying to do my first build, and have acquired a couple of frames - however the most suitable one (sold as 531 tubing (although no sticker), campag dropouts, the right size etc) is a bit on the rusty side. It also looks like is has been repainted before (by stickers etc, and also there appears to be chrome under some painted parts)

Basically... at what point should you give up and buy a more suitable frame? it seems sound, and looks like it should be a decent frame underneath - but re-spray costs etc might make it more economical to buy a new one (like this perhaps...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200177338787&ssPageName=ADME:B:WNARL:GB:1123

pretty cheap at 75 total? and i have some campag cranks which could go straight on... hmmm)

What does everyone reckon?

cheers, andy

Depends on how good you want it to look really. I seem to remember someone said that Sheldon Brown reckons rust, except in the most extreme cases, does not write off a frame (but i may be wrong). Vaz does a pretty cheap respray - how much did you pay for the 531 frame?

andyfallsoff Hello, i be a newby... although have been reading for a bit. Good to meet you all and hope you can help?

I am trying to do my first build, and have acquired a couple of frames - however the most suitable one (sold as 531 tubing (although no sticker), campag dropouts, the right size etc) is a bit on the rusty side. It also looks like is has been repainted before (by stickers etc, and also there appears to be chrome under some painted parts)

Basically... at what point should you give up and buy a more suitable frame? it seems sound, and looks like it should be a decent frame underneath - but re-spray costs etc might make it more economical to buy a new one (like this perhaps...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200177338787&ssPageName=ADME:B:WNARL:GB:1123

pretty cheap at 75 total? and i have some campag cranks which could go straight on... hmmm)

What does everyone reckon?

cheers, andy

that frame was on ebay the other day and sold for £64?!?

I was quoted £70(cash) to have a frame bead blasted to bare metal and powder-coated in any colour you like (£80 of 2 coat if you wanted a clear coat over the top and I think that was primed as well). if you could afford that much you would have no prep work to do and have a very nicely finished frame that will look good for years. That was a company in Portsmouth though.

Armourtex does that for 60. Got mine back 2 weeks ago and will hopefully unveil this weekend.
Although I did spend 5 hours stripping the paint only to be told it would still cost the same. Bah.

I was given an old pug frame, which I converted relatively cheaply (although more expensive than I thought beforehand!)as a first go. It is a lovely beater/commuter...

I am now working on a second build - taking my time, waiting for the right parts to come up, thinking about what I want it to be, spending the right amount of money...

Basically, what I am saying IMHO is get stuck into your first build. Have some fun with it... I would then settle back and work out exactly what you want for your 'premier ride'.

dogsballs that frame was on ebay the other day and sold for £64?!?

Indeed it was, somewhere in the HUGE listing text it says there was due to a bidding mistake. Therefore Andy, don't go for the Buy It Now option, bide your time if you still decide to go after it.

Cheers for all the comments... yep i saw it had gone for 64 before but with having a compatible bottom bracket et al, the price seemed ok at 75, and it means no stress of auction - it can be mine if i want it...?

I thought the re-spray option would be about that cost - there's not really much financial reason to go with either, but most would say an 853 with carbon forks better than my lowly 531, no? The 531 was dirt cheap (sub £20) anyway...

decisions, decisions...

531 is good!!

853 is better

Think about it like this:

Buy Raleigh - 75 quid

Respray current frame - 60 quid plus 20 to buy it in the first place

Buy the Raleigh if it fits, you're happy riding it and comfortable it is really 853 - it's certainly a bargain price.