Armourtex

It's bent sideways so it needs to be pulled over a bit; the outside edge is wide enough for the axle but the inside edge is the one that has been pulled over. I briefly tried wrenching it open with the other end of a hammer earlier to no avail, but didn't try very hard.

I'll give it another go tomorrow, maybe pop in or give them a call too.

I can see it now. The same happened to my Grubb and still have to deal with it.
I will use a hammer and big arse pliers, because there are no brand low quality soft dropouts on my bike.

Yep, vice would be handy, but you need to line up the sides properly to make sure it doesn't bend the chainstay tube (tape bits to the dropout if they are wedge shaped).

Am I thick or there's a need to open the dropout and not compress it with the vice?

Ain't compressing the dropout, just moving back into place .. just judgement .. just not cane the tightness on it. It more stable IMO ... but there is no mechanical difference in what you are doing.

I see what you are saying ... I ain't saying it is wrong.

It's ok, Lucas. I've just realised that the dropout was not only squashed but also "not in line".

would it not be best to leave it, have a word with the coaters, before you mark the coating, then they will have nothing to do with it.

Sorted. I tried to use a wrench, but as I had feared the rear spacing is now about 125 oops! That won't be a problem once the nuts are tightened I'm sure.

I ended up putting the flat end of the wrench in the dropout with the body of the wrench along the chainstay, put an allen key underneath it (with some bookboard for protection), and used the wrench like a lever to open up the dropout. Obviously it is still slightly offset but it is just wide enough to get the wheel in. I guess they weren't soft enough to just bend back with the wrench, so if anyone ever has the same problem, here is an alternative solution.

I'm sure I don't need to say this but the thread is not meant to put Armourtex down, the powdercoat was lovely and I'm sure this incident was a rare mistake.

I am sure they'll be apologetic, but it would be quite interesting to know how it got bent.

I know nothing about powdercoating really but am assuming that they have the frame held up on some rig in the oven, so was wondering if the rear dropouts are one contact point for that.

But what I can't work out is how they coat 100% of the frame, unless they do two coats and move the contact points half way through the process.

And, nice colour.

Armourtex bent my dropout!

Burn down their premises and then when the dirty little bastards run out screaming and on fire pick them off one by one with a claw hammer, then open them like a can of beans and eat their brains.

We already have a bent dropout on the forum

Hi,

as everyone probably knows, powder coatings have a much higher thickness than solvent based paint (especially along edges). At the same time, it is of course possible to vary the thickness of a powder coat to a certain amount by adjusting the process parameters.

I was wondering if Armourtex for example offer different thicknesses to choose from when you go to them, or at least if you can talk to them about that issue.
I am thinking about powdercoating a frame and I really fear that thick powder coat look, especially as there are chromed parts that would be masked.
Not sure if it's possible at all to get close to the thin layer look of solvent based paint with powder coating? Any experience with that, anyone?

Thanks,
icke

Why didn't you ring them and ask this??

Will do, but I thought someone might have had that problem before

Easy now guys, didnt want to start a new thread and end up pissing everyone off so thought would stick it in here...much the same as the OP, fuji track 09, wanting it powder coated but only snag is not being able to remove bb, headset, chain etc...for lack of tools and expertise, would rather get my head around how to do it myself than the LBS. anyone offer any advice or tools etc would be much appreciated!

Easy now guys, didnt want to start a new thread and end up pissing everyone off so thought would stick it in here...much the same as the OP, fuji track 09, wanting it powder coated but only snag is not being able to remove bb, headset, chain etc...for lack of tools and expertise, would rather get my head around how to do it myself than the LBS. anyone offer any advice or tools etc would be much appreciated!

Where in London are you? Do you know what sort of bottom bracket you have?

i live near old stree/moorgate. unsure on bb as im slightly puzzled by all the various measurements etc, its just the stock that it came with

Removing a headset is pretty easy if you take your time. I used a screwdriver covered with electrical tape, then tapped evenly with a hammer all the way round each cup until it came out. Not gonna lie, took a while and more force than you may think but it will come out eventually.

I just this morning picked my frame and forks up from amourtex. I aimed to take everything apart myself but got stuck on the bottom and the headset. I have a bb tool but it just wasn't shifting. Also wasnt sure about the headset cups.

Took it down to lookmumnohands and they did it for me as well as taking out a bottle cage bolt that was cross threaded. Cost me a tenner. Wish i had done this to begin with instead spending 4 hours on sat trying.

I went for boring old black for frame but the guys at amourtex have done a great job.

cheers for the advice guys really appreciate it, lmnh is just round the corner from me so i might head up there for food/jumble/bike dissasembly this sunday. nice one!

Hi all I am one of the directors of Armourtex Ltd. We make a point of not replying or making comments on these forums as we feel that its is up to our customers to post there thoughts without any input from us. I was however slightly worried about having the building burnt down and my brains blown out. With regards to the guy who claims we damaged his frame, there is nothing in our process that would do this. We make every effort to make sure that everyone who has anything powder coated by us is happy with the work we do. As someone else said earlier in this thread, if you come and see us with your problem then we might be willing to provide you with a credit note for a future project.

Dredge from the death!

It took ten months to come up with that?

Most epic dredge ever.
Or is it a belated bump?

We'd need some market research to answer that I think Tim.

How do you feel about Armortex right now?

Better? Worse? No change?

You can straighten it with a wrench.

http://www.companiesintheuk.co.uk/ltd/armourtex

Really?

I know anyone can go and do that, but making it easily accessible for the gurns that read this site? Not on imo.