Re: [CR]Vintage Bikes Most Desired.

(Example: History:Ted Ernst)

Date: Fri, 17 May 2002 22:56:54 -0700
From: "Chuck Schmidt" <chuckschmidt@earthlink.net>
To: M4Campy <M4Campy@aol.com>
Cc: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: Re: [CR]Vintage Bikes Most Desired.
References: <3CE5AA3D.8FCFD25F@optonline.net> <3CE5BF0C.53ADEEED@earthlink.net> <3CE5D36C.9040905@aol.com>


> Chuck,
>
> How far gone... After I finish up my Trek commuter project I have my
> Masi Prestige with some
> bubbling underneath the BB and a nasty rust bubble at the first cable
> guide on the top tube.
>
> Some days I think leave it alone and build it up, others I just want to
> send it off for a restore...
>
> Your thoughts? What is _very_ far gone? That rust spot is about the size
> of a dime and just looks
> about as nasty as dark rust can look... But still seems to be surface.
>
> Mike Wilkinson
> Parker, CO

Mike,

The danger is the rash decision to restore and a regret years later that you wished you hadn't. A restoration _never_ turns out to be _exactly_ like the original finish!

My method: #11 Exacto blade, scrape out rusted area till you get down to bright metal, fill with enamel model paint mixed to match and applied with a tooth pick out to the edges in a raised wet blob to dry back down to level with the original paint edge. It will never be an invisible repair, but it will be very easy to overlook. Stops the rust too.

The older I get the more I prize and covet originality in bicycles. I'm sure some may wonder why I don't get some of my "rougher" bikes repainted though. Maybe it's an acquired taste not shared by everyone?

Chuck Schmidt
SoPas, SoCal