New Fixed Project

[John Edmondson]

Hi, I have just bought this frame with a view to building a fixed wheel, winter training bike. The first task is to remove the bottom bracket so I can strip and re-paint the frame and replace the BB with a more modern design. As such I have two questions:

1. What tool will i need to remove this old fashion BB?
2. Does anybody have any advise on stripping and repainting steel frames in terms of suitable products and technique.

My plan was to use paint stripper to remove the bulk of the existing paint and then sand out any rust and stubborn paint using sand paper and a bit of elbow grease...

Any advice would be much appreciated!

 

[John Edmondson]

Photo's available here: http://s1008.photobucket.com/user/john-edmondson/library/Fixed Wheel Bike Project

 

[Lpoolck]

http://sheldonbrown.com/tooltips/bbcups.html

Put the fixed cup into a vice and turn the frame - same with the lock ring.

Nice frame. Where did you get that from and how much was it if you don't mind me asking?

 

[John Edmondson]

http://sheldonbrown.com/tooltips/bbcups.html

Put the fixed cup into a vice and turn the frame - same with the lock ring.

Nice frame. Where did you get that from and how much was it if you don't mind me asking?

That's great, thank you.

I don't mind at all, i paid £45 for it from a guy who works in my local bike shop. It was originally for sale as a complete bike but i was only after the frame and he so he included disassembling the bike in the cost. I though this was a fair price for a 531?

 

[jazzkat]

Paint removal=wire brush in my experience.
Get a few, and/or use those cup ones that fit into a drill or angle grinder. Nitromors isn't as good as it used to be and while sanding is good it can be a bit too abrasive and scratch the surface you are preparing.
Blasting would be even better, there's sure to somewhere nearby that would grit/bead blast it relatively cheaply. Just make sure you block off any blind holes and clean it all out thoroughly. Get some primer on asap it will start rusting straight away!

ps looks like a good buy.

 

[Amanda P]

If it's a frame you like, and you use it much, I predict you'll wish you'd had it professionally refinished. I say this because I've done exactly what you're doing, and ended up stripping the bike again and having it powder coated.

Most people that do powder coating will be expecting to grit blast or bead blast the work first, and it doesn't add much to the cost. Powder coaters are mostly used to doing bike frames, so they know about masking anything threaded.

Powder coat isn't quite as pretty as enamel, although it can come very close. But it's a LOT tougher, and quite a bit cheaper. It'll almost certainly be tougher and prettier than anything you can do yourself unless you're very practiced at spraying and you have an oven to harden it off in. And by the time you've bought a few rattle cans, you won't save much money either.

Oh, and the bottom bracket. If it really won't shift, try heating it up with a hot air gun or blow torch, then trying again, more than once if necessary. Copious penetrating oil may help if it's really stuck - but be prepared for it to burn off when you heat it up again. If the paint's going anyway, no need to worry about burning the paint with your blow torch. Try to avoid getting any part of the frame red hot, though - you may affect the temper of the 531 (and you wouldn't like 531 when it's angry).

 

[John Edmondson]

Cheers guys, appreciate all the advice. I am determined to do everything myself on this build. I want it to be entirely my own work.

The only bit I might get some assistance with is the removal of the existing bottom bracket. I think I might take it down the bike shop and get them to do that for me using the appropriate tools.

I have uploaded another photo to to my photo album which details all the materials I have bought today for the stripping and painting process. Any further comments would be great! http://s1008.photobucket.com/user/john-edmondson/library/Fixed Wheel Bike Project

 

[Lpoolck]

Decent price. Are the forks 531 as well? Looking forward to seeing the end result.

 

[John Edmondson]

Decent price. Are the forks 531 as well? Looking forward to seeing the end result.

I'm not sure, I have looked for markings. They appear to be the original forks (based on looking at other peoples pictures of the same model). Any other way to identify them?

Cheers, i'll keep posting up photo's. I'm starting on the paint tomorrow, should hopefully have something to show for it by the end of the day but i'm not getting my hopes up too much until that BB get's removed..!

 

[John Edmondson]

After some serious elbow grease and two cans of Nitromors (useless stuff...) I have finally gotten the pait off my frame. Before I move onto painting it, please could I ask anyone interested would take a look at the fame as it is now and give me the nod as to if it ready to prime and paint yet or if i need to be absolutely meticulous with regards to removing the paint from the moere awquard areas. Please see latest photo's in album:

http://s1008.photobucket.com/user/john-edmondson/library/Fixed Wheel Bike Project

Many thanks!

 

[smokeysmoo]

two cans of Nitromors (useless stuff...)

I've used Nitro Mors several times on frames and it's been great for the bulk of the paint. What I did though was to apply it, wait, apply it again, wait, maybe apply it again, wait, then power wash the frame. It took a few attempts but got the worst of it off, and the power washing was handy for those hard to reach areas.

I'd go with that myself from what I can see on the pics, but it all depends on what finish you want. If you want it concourse then keep rubbing, if you want it to look good under a general inspection then fill your boots.

Hang on, I've not read every post in detail TBH but am I right in thinking you're going to rattle can it? If so then I'd definitely leave it as it is, just maybe feather the edges of any remaining old paint and ensure the surface is adequately keyed.

 

[John Edmondson]

I've used Nitro Mors several times on frames and it's been great for the bulk of the paint. What I did though was to apply it, wait, apply it again, wait, maybe apply it again, wait, then power wash the frame. It took a few attempts but got the worst of it off, and the power washing was handy for those hard to reach areas.

I'd go with that myself from what I can see on the pics, but it all depends on what finish you want. If you want it concourse then keep rubbing, if you want it to look good under a general inspection then fill your boots.

Hang on, I've not read every post in detail TBH but am I right in thinking you're going to rattle can it? If so then I'd definitely leave it as it is, just maybe feather the edges of any remaining old paint and ensure the surface is adequately keyed.

Cheers! I have spent the best part of two days and put some serious sweat into getting the paint off that frame. The niromors never once blistered the paint and from my experiance of the level scrapping required power washing would not have done anything. After the 4th coat and second night of overnight soaking i was down to the last few patches of seriously stubborn paint which required a dose of streel wire drill-bit action. It really was an appalling experience, not helped by the bloke in my local bike shop laughing whilst explaining the he could have it blasted and powder coated for me for £35!! I have already invested £50 and 2 days labour...! Anyways, its done now When did you last use nitromors, i have read that the changed (weakened)the formula circa 2012 and its not been the same since?

I'm painting it with a spray on primer, brushed on Hammermite paint and sprayed on lacquer (i have included a photo of the products i am using in the album). I've already had a number of people tell me that i'll struggle to get a decent finish with the stuff but i'm too stubbern to turn back now. I've told the guys in the bike shop that i'm doing this way and its going to look beautiful...!

 

[smokeysmoo]

I've told the guys in the bike shop that i'm doing this way and its going to look beautiful...!

In that case just get cracking, but I'd resist the urge to brush paint it myself.

An old Uncle of mine used to paint motorbike sidecars by hand, and the finish he achieved was like glass, but the time and labour involved to achieve it is simply not worth it with today's modern aerosol paints.

Why not stick to you plan but swap out the Hammerite for an aerosol, just don't tell the guy at the LBS

PS: I've not done any resto work myself for a couple of years so perhaps I was still using the old formula Nitro Mors?

Good luck with it whatever you decide

Actually, damn you John Edmondson, I've got some Christmas money in my pocket, and it's my birthday on Jan 2nd, and now you've got me thinking about resto's, Mrs Smoo 'ain't gonna be happy

 

[John Edmondson]

In that case just get cracking, but I'd resist the urge to brush paint it myself.

An old Uncle of mine used to paint motorbike sidecars by hand, and the finish he achieved was like glass, but the time and labour involved to achieve it is simply not worth it with today's modern aerosol paints.

Why not stick to you plan but swap out the Hammerite for an aerosol, just don't tell the guy at the LBS

PS: I've not done any resto work myself for a couple of years so perhaps I was still using the old formula Nitro Mors?

Good luck with it whatever you decide

Actually, damn you John Edmondson, I've got some Christmas money in my pocket, and it's my birthday on Jan 2nd, and now you've got me thinking about resto's, Mrs Smoo 'ain't gonna be happy

I am tempted to swap the Hammerite for an aerosol but only if i can find the receipt Any suggestions on brand and how much i might need?

Sounds like you might want to include a provisional sum 'for keeping Mrs Smoo sweet' in you project budget. The mess and lack of attention alone is gonna set you back by at least a mini-break..!

 

[John Edmondson]

Also, i'm considering buying one of these two items:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Quality-S...cycling_bikeparts_SR&var=&hash=item1c36be4bfd
OR
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sunrace-S...cycling_bikeparts_SR&var=&hash=item416ff7f39a

Does anybody see any issues with compatibility with frame or my intended use of fixed, flip-flop, winter hill trainer?

Many Thanks!