I believe Roberts used Colour Tech in Dartford for their paint. I had 3 bikes resprayed through Roberts a few years ago, one frame was rebuilt a few weeks after return and is ridden a lot. This frame is distressingly poor regarding chipping and even a minor scrap with a shoe will see paint loss. Easily chips revealing white undercoat. I have posted on the forum previously about this. Fit a water cage and the paint just flakes away from the bosses. I dread rebuilding the remaining couple of frames, at least they should be well cured by the time I get around to it!
My 1987 Roberts racing bike was tough, never even needed a chain stay protector. This was resprayed about 18 months ago by C&G in Liverpool, a lovely job, but the test will be when rebuilt and ridden.
Modern paint finshes don't seem to be as tough as they used to be.
Frame Resprayer recommendation South East London ?
Re: Frame Resprayer recommendation South East London ?
Des49 wrote:Modern paint finshes don't seem to be as tough as they used to be.
Yes - I understand (maybe from here) that one of the reasons is modern H&S safety regs.
The enamel paint on my Hewitt damages very easily.
My various older bikes (90s and all factory made and painted) are kinda scratched (some a lot) but they wear it well - none has ever gone down to the metal. Those old paint jobs seem way way superior.
Last edited by Sweep on 15 Feb 2019, 9:58am, edited 1 time in total.
Sweep
Re: Frame Resprayer recommendation South East London ?
Toughness aside, if the frame has nice lugwork it's imperative you get a quality, thin paint coat. Thick paint on lugs is an abomination. I specifically asked for as thin as possible from my local spray company and they recommended enamel. It is a good job, much thinner than the other processes they use but still thicker than the paint on my aged Rick Powell and Ellis Briggs frames - but that may be unavoidable these days due to environmental constraints affecting paint composition. I recently saw a spray job from Bob Jackson (who used to have an excellent reputation) and that was thick enough that, had it been mine, I would have rejected it.
The older I get the more I’m inclined to act my shoe size, not my age.
Re: Frame Resprayer recommendation South East London ?
Mm, i know some folks get all orgasmic about lugs (look at the lugs on that mate) but such complications seem to be an argument against lugs. Fair enough if it's a vintage bike and you want to preserve its looks/features, but otherwise nice welding (and it can be very nice) seems simpler. Somehow getting obsessed about lugs (not saying you are) seems like a fetish beyond the joys of cycling. I'll stick with my 90s steel hybrids and their near indestructible paint jobs
Last edited by Sweep on 15 Feb 2019, 2:01pm, edited 1 time in total.
Sweep
-
- Posts: 856
- Joined: 10 Mar 2009, 9:57pm
Re: Frame Resprayer recommendation South East London ?
I would take/send my frame to a reputable frame builder such as Mercian. Expensive but at least they do a top notch job that will last.
"Zat is ze reel prowoking qwestion Mr Paxman." - Peer Steinbruck, German Finance Minister 31/03/2009.