Starting my First Project!

Hi,
I just received an old road bike off my brother, pretty good story really, he saw it in a front garden with a sign saying 'scrap metal' so he knocked on the door and asked the woman if she wanted any money for it, she said no as it was her late husbands and she was going to scrap it!

So yeah, got a bike for free, not bad really!

I am planning on restoring it, starting with stripping the paint and respraying it. Then i was going to make it into a fixie, but have been considering just restoring it to an old road bike..... not sure yet.

I was just wondering if anyone had any tips or advice for me as I have never done this before. Particularly the respray seeing as this is the first job, should i use paint stripper or just sand it?

Thanks Chris

A few months ago I finished my first build too (well, have done two now) and if you want anything other than a pretty difficult job preparing the frame it's best to take it somewhere to get it shot (sand) blasted and powder-coated. Check out Armourtex in East London. They're reasonably priced for an amazing result! Some talented people do spray paint their own jobs but painting isn't a skill I have; at least not painting frames.

My other advice would be try to get the components and do a dry-run fitting them before it's painted. I didn't realise until after getting mine painted that I'd have to drill out the forks so the bolt on the new brake callipers would fit. Had I known that before I'd have drilled it out before getting it painted.

Before starting I didn't have much idea about looking after my bike and used to take it to a shop to get it fixed but each part taught me loads about the process. I read loads online and asked advice at a bike shop I trusted and learned about each tiny bit. Now I have a perfect bike which I love and know how to look after it.

Chris, have you met Edscoble yet?

Winter, I have considered having it professionally stripped and painted but I would like to try and do it all myself..... giving myself a big challenge! And the dry-run advice is a great idea, i will definitely do that. Thanks

Pistanator, No i haven't yet haha

I have been very busy for the past month with assignments and exams (student life suck) but now that I am finished for the summer (student life is great!!) I can get started on the bike properly!

I have been looking around for places where you can get paint rattle cans. I am set on a painting the bike a pale salmon pink (think Giro d'italia) but i am struggling to find anywhere that sells paint in this colour...... any advice or places to look?

Thanks

Where are you based?

Well kind of in two places really, neither of them in London haha. Loughborough and Blackburn.

Find a local powder coating firm.

Cheapest and easiest way.

Find a local powder coating firm.

Cheapest and easiest way.

That was my suggestion too, up there ^

Loughborough and Blackburn.

My sympathies.

There must be a powder coating firm up in your end of the world. They'll remove all paint and then you can have whatever colour flicks your switch.

Try finding the RAL colour number you want, then call around and ask. (For salmon pink you are looking for RAL 3022, but giro pink it isnt, so googly RAL and pick the right one). I would definitely get it done properly. DIY ends up being pricey, and no where near as good.

Good luck

^This. Totally and utterly this.

If you're riding in Loughborough, might be worth joining this group, nice bunch of people

https://www.facebook.com/groups/lborofixed/