Demon Frameworks - Custom lugged frame

It's 853 tubing, with stainless lugs/ends.

Not sure about rusting underneath the coat, but it would seem viable that if there were any imperfection in the coating then it could rust*. But wouldn't that be the same for an opaque coat, except you wouldn't see the rust?

*Possibly inneresting fact ... I spent a summer working in a factory that made tin cans for the Scottish Fruit market - one wagon load returned from the fruit filler within 24hrs as the rhubarb had eaten through the cans via a small scratch in the internal lacquer. Juice seeping everywhere.

I love my 853. It's truly wonderful.

Maybe the Scottish deep-fried fruit market...

Should have clarified ... the Scottish fruit export market.

Are the forks 853 too?

Yup.

This is going to be amazing. I'm so excited for you!

Why go for Sapim Laser and not CX Ray?

I feel like I should delete my internet history after looking at this thing.

^^^ This.

I've got CX Ray on the Mather. I love them, but would say that they are perhaps too stiff and unforgiving at times. They can show strain on the rims due to lack of any slack and how taut they need to be.

CX Rays have their place, but I'm not convinced it's on a bike that you want to be extremely comfortable. Not sure whether that was a factor in Julia's calculation, but it would be in mine (and I would put CX Rays on the Mather if I did it again, but would never consider them for cyclocross or 29er because of their stiffness).

Why go for Sapim Laser and not CX Ray?

The CX Ray were almost 3 times the price ... the advice I got was:

The Sapim Race spokes are still a butted spoke and are at least as good as say a DT Competition spoke. The Laser is made of a higher quality steel, it is quite a bit lighter and has a higher longevity. The CX-Ray is pretty much the best spoke money can buy. They come on lots of high end road wheels now (some Zipps for example). They are aerodynamic, their longevity rating is unparalleled and their strength is extremely high - they can be used for downhill racing for example. However their premium price tag is a deterrent for some people. You may also want to consider the Sils alloy nipples upgrade.

I figured that the wheelset would be fine with Lasers, given that I wouldn't be racing let alone downhill racing. I have taken the nipple upgrade.

Just seen David's post - hadn't considered the stiffness, but given your advice I would have opted not to go with the CX Rays.

I would have said clear coat would look amazing, but I did some research for mine and I gathered that unless is alu, it needs priming, which is white, and since clear-coat is porous, it will rust without the primer.
Great that he didn't sent it out with a dodgy paint job. That speaks volumes.
When's the new arrival date?

Posted it before. I've got no experience with it, but check some reviews on Google.
There's one guy on here who bought a can, but I can't remember who it was.

http://www.gibbsbrandeurope.com/home.html

I stand corrected! What will they think of next?

Will follow this with interest. I paid my deposit with Tom at Demon on my 953 touring frame this summer and had my fitting session with him in early December. A bit premature as he won't be building my frame until around May time but I had a spare annual leave day to use or otherwise lose, so the trip to Southampton made sense. I've spent many an hour before and since pondering the endless options you get when you go custom. I hope your bike works out exactly how you want it.

Tom is one of the nicest people you could ever meet btw and clearly a gifted framebuilder.

Had a couple of long chats with The Painter over the past two days (Hydro-Graphics, as correctly guessed by rive gauche earlier) ... ... we're all go with the paint!

After much umming and ahing, I decided against the slightly flashier paint (2 colour sparkle/shimmer) so as not to detract from the lugs which are already providing plenty of detail to the bike (the contrasting sparkle was proving difficult to do anyway). The name of the main colour I have chosen sounds like Violet Beauregarde drinking a Grape Kool-Aid.

Despite only going by a web based color chart, which is subject to monitor calibration, I have agreed to trust The Painter and not get a paint sample (he did say he was a Doctor). It should be completed in a couple of weeks.

He explained that they re-mask the lungs after each layer of primer/paint, which is where the previous painter had gone wrong. By leaving the one layer of masking fluid in place, it had got caught in the edges of the layers.

He is also going to clear coat the lugs, there is a special clear coat available that is for finished metal - not sure if it is what Gabe posted or something different.

Interestingly, some of the paint effects that they can do sound pretty awesome. Just one example being - tinting the clear coat which, over polished lugs, would make them look like they are wrapped with cellophane. That with some matching/contrasting paint on the tubing could look pretty special.

One thing I've learnt today, if you're going custom - it's a good idea not to leave the paint decision until last. There are loads of possibilities and effects that can be incorporated, given the right choice and preparation of the base metal.

Wow,
and there was me thinking my custom Paris was complecated... cant wait to see the finnished bike.

This bike will never leave the house! Met office on speed dial and predictions of truly gorgeous weather:

I think I'll get my bike out darling...

Of course it will ... I'm lucky enough to be able to leave it in a conference room at work so the commute (in the dry of course) will be a winner. Just need to get a Surly for the wet and windy days.

What I do need though, Westicles, is a good photo location for a sunny day in a couple of weeks. Suggestions?

rp.

Or Casa Pasquale. He'll explode when he sees it.

Rp would be good actually, when do the crocuses come out ;p

does hydrographics allow tartanisation?
(just asking like)

With dew on the grass etc

this is insanely pretty:

does hydrographics allow tartanisation?
(just asking like)

What the friq is that? Oh - I though you said tartar....

Have a look at their website - they specialise in camouflage (guns 'n' stuff) - so maybe - http://www.hydro-graphics.co.uk/.