I really want a new frame, I don't need one at all it's just the spoilt inner child in me screaming "I want, I want"
I do like the look of these raw finished steel frames that have I have seen recentl - Kona's Unit & Explosif and also the Singular Buzzard that was on here yesterday.
So does anyone know how easy it is to do and how does it effect the life of the frame from rust etc?
What, like this?
Lots of wire wool and elbow grease with polish.
Finished with clearcoat laquer
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I've done it to 2 charge blenders & 1 charge duster.
Really easy to strip the paint off. Just take your time and dont rush it.
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BUT the finish was no where near as good as it is on my explosif. Even with some wire wool and a can of lacquer it was still rather agricultural. After a season there was rust veins under the lacquer and it also chipped. The explosif on the other hand is lovely. Really, really nice finish and very durable! No rust to be seen and you cant even chip the finish. Not sure what they used but it's ace.
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Wonder if the Kona is powder coated. Its available in clear gloss and matt finishes
Man that Curtis is a work of art!
it's a really hard finish to get done properly yourself, even factory raw finished frames with get spider web like rust lines under the clear coat and if done on the cheap yourself it can look real pants!
Seeing as patience is not one of my strong suits, is there anywhere I can send my frame with some money and it come back with a raw finish?
I spoke to a local powdercoaters regarding a raw finish for one of my steel frames.
Firstly they said that they would dip and strip rather than bead blast then I could either have it back to brush with wire wool/scourer before clear coating with lacquer or go straight form the dip to clear coating.
The two routes should in theory give two very different finishes
the finish on the Curtis, yes, yes and yes! That is lovely, just the sort of thing I am after. Do the decals go on after laquering?
Yep, polishing takes hours
Hi there, the raw Buzzard is mine. I was after a unpolished look with it, so it is in no way polished! It was chemically dipped which leaves a frame with no paint but a fair bit of "marring" that needs taking back by hand. I rubbed it back first with course sandpaper then worked up to a 1200 grit (fairly fine) to leave a smooth but keyed surface, after that it had several layers of laquer and a final wet sand with fine wet and dry to smooth it up. The decal was cut by me and applied before the last coat of laquer. The frame was then treated to a thick layer of carnuba wax. I am not sure how long the finish will last before a bit of rust creeps in, I imagine I will have to refinish it after winter, but always wanted to do a raw frame!