Hey gang,
Just in case anyone was wondering, we did indeed have an earthquake at almost exactly midnite last night. Apparently both Jim Cunningham and myself were at our computers typing! I felt the sharp jolt, but none of the rumbeling that went on afterwards apparently. My house sits basically at the base of an inactive granite quarry; frequently I only feel minor effects of quakes on account of this vein of granite is pretty much a solid block that runs from here north 40 miles or so to Escondido.
What timing. These two "Imron Incidents" have happened within the last two days; one of them just minutes ago. Dig this. Yesterday a frame I built in 1979 came in for a repaint from the original owner with the original Imron paint job intact. This happens so infrequently (in that these paint jobs seem to have extremely long lifespans) that I am always extra excited to see how the frames look and how the paintjob stood up. Most of my frames still belong to the original owners and have original paint on them. I was again amazed at the virtually new appearance of the paint except where the owner failed to wipe off sweat after every ride around the front tob tube guide and that area. The owner didn't feel they could afford a new paint job even though they contacted me about 10 years ago about it. I always say don't wait. I'll tell them I'll do it for free if its jepordizing the frame to let it go. Still this person didn't feel comfortable letting me do it and worry about money later. Finally at last, I persuaded this person to send it in. Like I said, the paint is awsome, except where the 10 year old festering rust boil erupted. And still the frame will survive with no structural damage of significance and no evidence of same once repainted. But I would rather comp the owner the job 10 years ago as opposed to now since we could have avoided a lot of this rust in those two small areas. But now is the time and not a moment later 'cause this one is at the limit. Two things, here. The most important one is WIPE OFF YOUR FRAME AFTER EVERY RIDE and chances are that a quality paint job will last indeffiniately. Just take a look at Chuck Schmidts' 1974 Wizard frame. It's very nearly flawless and the primer I used then is nowhere near as good as what I use now. My feeling is that a good prep job and quality materials (wheather Imron or not) are the key to superior paint jobs. After that the skill of the painter determines the level of quality of the final outcome, based on thinness and gloss of the finish, complete and even coverage of the entire frame, and artistry of color choice ans scheme among other things.
Imron Incident number two is more interesting. A frame came in just a little while ago. As I examined it I noticed many interesting details that are very unusual for this type of frame. One very interesting point was that as I checked out this non original color that obviously was the original finish and decal graphics, I realized first that the frame had not been sandblasted as normal; but left with visible heat discoloration markings on the crown and around the bb shell as I sort of poked around the frame. The paint is clearely Imron with a clearcoat over the decals, but NO PRIMER was used! Not only had this frame been half heartledly hand sanded for prep before paint; but was imron sprayed directly on the bare metal. I have determined the date of this frame as very late 1974 and the paint is original. Yes, there is the same sweat damage around the front two cable guides and along the top tube, but otherwise this (mystery) paint job has prevented rust and maintained gloss nearly as well as the Baylis frame. Both of these bikes are very high milage frames, in case anyone is thinking they are wall hangers. Clearly not these two! So there you go folks. Make of it what you will, but right before my eyes today two examples of 20 year old plus Imron paint jobs that would still be on the road if not for sweat damage; one done to professional standards of the day (1979) and one done I'm sure by a person I know under odd circumstances ( I can't reveal all details; doctor/patient privledge on this one) in 1974 which demonstrate something; but right now I'm not exactly sure what. I'll say one thing, how one cares for a paint job is probably in the long run more important that a certain amount of fancy paint or careful prep, as odd as that may sound!
Brian Baylis Strange day in Imronland
Brian Baylis I love my job in La Mesa, CA Hey, and don't rattle me; I get enough of that at home!