I thought I should add a bit of explanation to the greater cost of multi color paint jobs. There is some suggestion that this increase is either a bit of unfair price gouging or the result of a lack of knowledge of how to work efficiently. Well since my name got magically added to this heading, and I learned the basics of painting in England 30 years ago and have being doing it full time ever since, I'm hoping I can shed some light on this subject. Adding a second - or in the case of a barber pole - three colors (2 more on the seat tube as well as the main color) - greatly increases the labor time - if it is done really well. To give some perspective, it can take me as much or more time to add colors to a frame as the total time to paint a single color frame. Production manufacturers don't do striping because it it too labor intensive and if they paint a second color, it almost always has a separating decal to mask the jagged edge of the joining paint. Or they do a fade which solves the edge problem.
To start with, paint has a certain thickness (it varies according to what paint) and when it comes in contact with masking tape, it will collect at the juncture making it even thicker there. To get a really clean edge wher e the paint is not raised at the 2nd color joint takes some real effort - especially if you don't want to show the different color underneath layers. I don't think there is need to tell my painting techniques here but generally it is solved with sanding and multiple clear coats and moving masks. In addition, paint just loves to creep under masking and spoil the job. Adding to this complicity is masking at the lug without a jagged edge . Their are various ways to do this but they all involve time if done well.
That barber pole look is somewhat of a Mercian trademark so I believe Brandon is correct, they have refined a painting technique to accomplish that specific look efficiently. So, my point is, really nice work is not only the result of proper methods but also hard work. I believe the cost o f doing multi colors is actually undervalued considering the time it takes to do them well.
How well something is done reminds me of my neighbor that stopped by yesterday and wanted recommendations for a bicycle for his wife to be able to exercise regularly on. It seemed to him that paying more than $200 for a new complete bicycle was paying too much since Wal Mart has them for under $100. How good a paint job is and it's cost can follow that same logic path. Not everyone cares how perfect paint edges can be, but for those tha t have an eye for detail, it is possible to see the difference between cheap and expensive 2nd color applications and figure it is worth the price.
Doug Fattic Niles, Michigan
From: Brandon Ives <brandon@ivycycles.com>
looking at Mercian's page they charge 34 pounds for the barber pole these days. The reason it's expensive is it's a very tricky mask to get correct. First you pain a base color. Second you need to get the spiral right and tight without any gaps. Then you need to mask two lug edges which can be a pain. Lastly you shoot your top color. Then you get to remove the masking and a piece that long can also be quite tricky to get off and keep the edges crisp. I think the cheapest priced
I was quoted was $125. Most painter charge in the ballpark of $50 just for just a contrasting band on the seattube so $125 seems about right for the work involved. Any additional color involves quite a bit of extra time tha t has nothing to do with spraying paint. My guess is Mercian can do it so cheaply because they have a system set up inn place that saves them time an d are familiar with the job.
best, Brandon"monkeyman"Ives Vancouver, B.C.
On Tuesday, Mar 21, 2006, at 01:16 US/Pacific, Olof Stroh wrote:
>
> Brandon Ives wrote on the subject of barber poles:
>
>> Don't apologize I'm a total sucker for barber pole too. --------
> I'd like to offer
>> it to my customers, but the two quotes I've gotten from painters
>> basically doubled the price of the paint job.
> _____________________________
> Why?
>
> Bought a barber pole bike from Mercian two years ago and they didn´t char
ge me
a penny extra. Must be a way to do it in a rationall way.
>
> cheers
>
> Olof Stroh
> Uppsala Sweden