Polo Bikes

Can I open up the discussion on raw frames?

I'm getting some work done on my Traffic which means it will be half stripped of it's paint.
Id like to do the cheapest option of sorting this out that doesn't look too shite but doesn't leave the frame rusty.

I understand Armortex charge £60.
Mario Vaz says clear coating alone won't stop the rust.
If I strip the rest of it a clear coat it myself, maybe it will have an 'acceptable level' of rust.

I don't totally understand the process of painting a steel frame, but I can tell you that in my experience, powder coat is the most cost efficient way to get your frame protected from rust, which is the biggest killer of steel frames (apart from Horatio).

I have seen a lot of diy paint, and it just doesn't last. If you take a close look at my RB-1, the original paint, by & large, is holding up, whereas the diy (around the rear drop-outs) is pretty much gone.

On the other hand, powder coat is nauseatingly pig-ugly, and if done poorly, chips off in great big flakes, so overall, considering aesthetics, function & cash, you're probably best off going to someone like Colourtech (I have had many frames painted by Vaz, and have not been impressed), and getting a decent stove-enamel.

But what the f*** do I know?