Project Phoenix

[Drago]

Sounds like you're offering to pay for it to be done professionally for me Joe

It will be very decent quality. I know how to spray and I'm anal about prep. A friend of mine works for an unnamed employer who uses Spraymax 2K and hes able to help himself to time expired stuff that is still perfectly good, so it'll be reasonably hard wearing when it's done.

The forks are flawless, and the rest of the frame will be the same.

 

[Smokin Joe]

Sounds like you're offering to pay for it to be done professionally for me Joe

Come on Drago, a man of your means could have that done out of his loose change.

 

[Drago]

Sorry for the lack of updates. In this really hot weather work has ground to a halt - I dont think I'll be sitting outside wet and drying a frame when its 34 Celsius in the shade! Hopefully work and updates will resume this weekend.

 

[SkipdiverJohn]

In this really got weather work has ground to a halt - I dont think I'll be sitting outside wet and drying a frame when its 34 Celsius in the shade!

The last two days have been sitting in the shade with a cold beer in hand weather, not weather for doing any avoidable work!.

 

[Gravity Aided]

Sounds like it has been humid over there, as well. Not good for curing paint. Moderate temps and low humidity are helpful.

 

[SkipdiverJohn]

Sounds like it has been humid over there, as well. Not good for curing paint. Moderate temps and low humidity are helpful.

Thursday was extremely hot by UK standards, and rather clammy. Friday was similar but just a couple of degrees cooler. I was drinking pints of water at work and didn't need to visit the toilet once - I was sweating it out as fast as I consumed it. Definitely not painting weather, as it would dry too quickly, even if you were willing to tolerate the heat and the strong sun. Today has been a bit wet this morning and is now drier but rather windy. On the plus side, the forecast thunderstorm failed to appear. Currently deciding whether to go for a ride or not. The temperature is comfortable but it's a bit gusty for enjoyable cycling.

 

[Gravity Aided]

Usually my weather in the States for most of the summer. I'm surrounded by corn fields as well. Corn plants exhale about a gallon of water vapor per plant, per day. It is also around about 30 C as a max temperature most of the summer. I usually reserve fall and spring for painting projects.

 

[Drago]

The weather has improved, much more befitting of being 52.5° North. Today I'll be busy as it's Mini D's Birthday, but frame prep will continue apace tomorrow.

 

[Gravity Aided]

Happy birthday, Mini D!
Even in the midst of the silver paint crisis

 

[Drago]

Decals removed, and the bulk of the rubbing down done today. I had considered trying to salvage the bronze paint highlights but what looks like minor rust pinrpricks invariably rub backed to significant areas under the paint, so safest to just get it all off.

I've broken the back of it today, packed it in when my titanium elbow started to ache. One more session to finish with 400 grit wet, then rust treat, then degrease and it's ready for primer.

I've decided on the decal set, gone for a 1979 set which were fitted to an earlier version of the same model.

 

[Gunk]

Looking forward to following this one. Right up my street!

 

[Drago]

Finished rubbing the frame down, dried it, dedgreased it, washed it, dried it again. This has let a fair bit of exposed steel that I don't want open to the air any longer than necessary, so I hung the frame up and blasted it with a coat of epoxy-anode zinc primer then left it hanging to dry. I'll snap a photo in the morning when the light's a bit better.

Aside from the corrosion resistance and the tough, hard physical barrier, it has 2 other advantages. It's high solids, so has filled any minor imperfections, and when I rub it back ready for paint primer it's going to be smooth as treacle hand poured by Barry White.

Second advantage is that this primer is silver, so it has given me a rough visual indication of how this frame is going to look in that colour when it is finished. And I can tell thee, it's great!

 

[carpenter]

" smooth as treacle hand poured by Barry White"
great line, made me smile

 

[Tenacious Sloth]

" smooth as treacle hand poured by Barry White"
great line, made me smile

I’ve always liked “smooth as a slug with a cravat on.”

@Drago I know it’s a faff, but an occasional piccy would be good.

 

[Drago]

It is a faff, as I dont have a smartphone. Its tablet or camera and then download for me. But fear not, it shall happen soon.