RE: A summary, was [CR] powder coating vs. wet paint- Now No "e" in CyclArt

(Example: Racing:Wayne Stetina)

From: "Jim Cunningham" <CyclArtist@cox.net>
To: "'P.C. Kohler'" <kohl57@starpower.net>, <hsachs@alumni.rice.edu>, "'Classic Rendezvous'" <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Subject: RE: A summary, was [CR] powder coating vs. wet paint- Now No "e" in CyclArt
Date: Sat, 31 Dec 2005 13:53:17 -0800
Organization: CyclArt
In-Reply-To: <002301c60d8f$fa92ffe0$5e390fd8@D36MSL71>


Peter & list,

RE: it can be very satisfying indeed. And sometimes >done too well.... I know my '73 Cinelli (repainted by the original
>owner via CycleArt) is a repaint because it looks much better than
>the original paint job.

>I am not entrusting any of my Peugeots to Jim at CycleArt until he
>can prove he can do as poor as masking job on the black lugwork as
>the original.

Thanks for the mention... I have offered and often even recommended refinishes replicating original quality. I estimate less than that one in 100 clients take us up on the idea. Sometimes, when the idea is proposed the client assumes that it is suggested as a cost saving measure, but while some time may be saved in doing slap dash masking for example, compensating for the new materials tendency toward greater gloss and modifying our practiced techniques or even taking steps to impart flaws intentionally, more than makes up for the time saved. Also, when the norm is working to very high standard, it is stressful to QC an item intended to have a lower but less defined standard; "is it too good, or it is too rough," becomes a tough question.

On restorations, we work from detailed before photos, so if you want choppy masking on your Peugeots, just say so and we'll photo them and recreate them as they are!

Oh and by the way "CyclArt" is spelled with no "e". Important to keep in mind when doing Internet searches!

Jim "I meant to do that" Cunningham CyclArt Vista, CA

-----Original Message----- From: P.C. Kohler [mailto:kohl57@starpower.net] Sent: Friday, December 30, 2005 2:26 PM To: hsachs@alumni.rice.edu; Classic Rendezvous Subject: Re: A summary, was [CR] powder coating vs. wet paint

Harvey makes a good point about gloss... most modern auto enamels have this "glassy' effect that sets them apart from say paint in the 1950s-70s. It's not the colour but the hard, unrelenting gloss that makes the bike look.. well.. repainted. At the streetcar museum where I was the painter-in-chief, we avoided Imron and used the old Dulux, the original nitro-celluloise synthetic auto enamel instead. Alas, no longer made. But it's possible to reduce the gloss in modern paints like Imron. And worth doing in my opinion.

The other thing to remember for those of you lucky to own pre-war machines... if they were black, they were almost surely "dipped" not sprayed. And again the application of the paint is a big factor in how original it looks. I did a lot of what the British call "enamelling" at that

museum... brush enamelling.. and this worked well in repainting the top tube

of a Raleigh roadster, perfectly matching the colour and the "look" of the original. A proper brush enamelling takes lots of time and patience but the results are very gratifying. And authentic. Unless you have a big vat of

glorious British Bike Black to dip your frame into.

Painting is very complex and fascinating especially if you get into the history of various methods and materials over the years. But done right by yourself or someone else, it can be very satisfying indeed. And sometimes done too well.... I know my '73 Cinelli (repainted by the original owner via

CycleArt) is a repaint because it looks much better than the original paint job.

I am not entrusting any of my Peugeots to Jim at CycleArt until he can prove

he can do as poor as masking job on the black lugwork as the original.

Peter Kohler
Washington DC USA