Re: [CR]Vaz Finishes

>I went to see Mario Vaz today after work with pictures of my Sun to get a
>price. He's a really nice guy and was very welcoming, it was also really
>great to see so many beautiful frames in his workshop. He used to run the
>paint shop at Holdsworth and has now set himself up with a fair sized
>workshop with a very healthy turn around. Being
> in London there are droves of courier and commuters keen to ride a
> polished bike so there seems to be plenty of demand.
>
> I mentioned his prices for a single colour, standard or metallic and
> decals earlier. For any job he shot-blasts them to strip them down, the
> attention to detail on a stripped frame I saw seemed very good indeed
> (smooth as anything). Paints with an anti-rust primer, main coat,
> applies decals and then lacquers; all cooked on in a big oven of course.
> You can request more than one coat at any stage if that's
> what you're after.
>
> The finished jobs I saw were good, I guess it depends what you're
> restoring. I think the paint finish for something run of the mill like
> my Sun would probably be better that it was when it was made, I've never
> had anything with a mint paint job to compare to but the finished frames
> I saw were better than any finishing I've seen new in
> the shop on the high street.
>
> The decals he has are from Nick at Lloyds but will happily use other
> decals if you can source them.
>
> To give you an idea of costs for an average job (no blends or fades etc).
> My Sun to be refinished in White, Light blue and Flamboyant Red, colours
> separated with gold bands and lugs high-lighted with a gold detail would
> come to £95. I'm pretty certain it never had any
> decals (apart from the gold bands) so I'm undecided on whether to put
> a Sun badge on seat tube as it would look lovely and a set of decals adds
> £15 to the cost of any job. I didn't ask about chrome plating
> as mine is in perfect condition. He said it would take up to three weeks
> after I drop off the frame, I'm sure he could be persuaded to turn them
> around in less time.
>
> Interestingly he has some good contacts for frame building/repair. To
> replace a tube is £40, I couldn't believe this price as I'd been
> quoted up to £200 from a local shop. The £40 covers the materials
> and rebuilding (sticking it in a jig I think it's called it where the
> alignment is checked etc. both before and after). To change drop- outs
> for track ends or to replace damaged drop-outs is more expensive
> at £70. This is great news for me as my Viking would have cost me in
> excess of £400 to repair and finish; I only paid £100 for it in the
> first place, at these prices it would be about £160 to repair and
> refinish which would be well worth it.
>
> I'm not really sure about the US/UK quality comparison, I guess you get
> what you pay for to some extent however I'm sure you can get as good in
> any country and equally you can get poor in any too. I don't
> think anyone would be happy with their workmanship being graded on their
> country alone. David Patrick sent me some pictures of a finish
> by Bob Jacksons which was superb and I can't see anything in this to the
> quality finishes from the US.
>
> Right, I think I've said far too much on this thread. I'll shut up now.

>

> Cheerio

>

> Julius Naim

> London, UK