abr303
Retro Guru
Having put my C16R on the back burner for the time being (still waiting for a nice set of Pace MXCD's to turn up somewhere) it was time get cracking with a frame I've had knocking about for a while. Actually I have two the same, a pair of Orange P7 frames, 94 and '95 versions and both 17". I've puzzled over for sometime where to go with them as I like the nickel finish but both had suffered from the usual rust spots all over and around the welds and bottom bracket area. I decided to polish up the '95 frame to a raw finish using the gt85 and spontex pad method then metal polished it to a high finish but my ocd kicked in and pondered on whether it would and rust and develop rust spot scabs again over time........ I decided to have the frame clear coated by a local sprayer who took it on and had a specific clear coat for it but to cut along story short was disappointed in the results..... its now waiting to be fully stripped back again and re-polished but have given up on it in the meantime.
I now turned my attentions to my '94 frame ( A4040028 ) which wasn't too bad but was a bit tatty, scabby rust spots all over and the decals missing in places.
I'd polished and got rid of the rust spots in and around the forks and was going to do the same on the frame again but the old dilemma of it staying rust free and polished with the intended riding I had in mind started me thinking..... I wasn't keen on having to re-polish/wax it after every ride so decided to have it powder coated for piece of mind and longevity and not have the worry of it rusting in the future........ So of it went to a sand blasting and powder coating firm I'd found online who where doing bike frames. They have seen a big intake of bike frame requests and as their reputation had grown immensely popular in the two wheel world and looking at reviews over the last 12 months, my decision was made.......
So after a few weeks (they were busy), the return of my eagerly awaited frame set turned up..... I hope I'd chosen the right colour.....
I've kept it silver but have gone for a more aluminium look and really like how it turned out so a big thumbs up to the guys at Maldon Shot Blasting & Powder Coating Ltd. for their handy work.
Next was to get the decals I've had lying around for ages onto the frame so a big shout to Gil @retro decals again for my request... Yes they are not the same font type as the original decals but prefer this type so it was on with the task in hand... I also fitted a new Tange 1" threaded sealed cartridge bearing headset and and the polished up cable hanger. Fitted a UN-72 bottom bracket, installed the seat post shim and polished the original seat post and this is where I'm up to currently........
More to follow soon as I've been busy restoring and polishing a few items for the build and will update as things progress. Everything is pretty much sourced and will be running a Deore XT 737 groupset and a set of XT hubs on FIR M123 rims but yet to decide on tyres though I've a few options in the garage. Will update again soon.......
I now turned my attentions to my '94 frame ( A4040028 ) which wasn't too bad but was a bit tatty, scabby rust spots all over and the decals missing in places.
I'd polished and got rid of the rust spots in and around the forks and was going to do the same on the frame again but the old dilemma of it staying rust free and polished with the intended riding I had in mind started me thinking..... I wasn't keen on having to re-polish/wax it after every ride so decided to have it powder coated for piece of mind and longevity and not have the worry of it rusting in the future........ So of it went to a sand blasting and powder coating firm I'd found online who where doing bike frames. They have seen a big intake of bike frame requests and as their reputation had grown immensely popular in the two wheel world and looking at reviews over the last 12 months, my decision was made.......
So after a few weeks (they were busy), the return of my eagerly awaited frame set turned up..... I hope I'd chosen the right colour.....
I've kept it silver but have gone for a more aluminium look and really like how it turned out so a big thumbs up to the guys at Maldon Shot Blasting & Powder Coating Ltd. for their handy work.
Next was to get the decals I've had lying around for ages onto the frame so a big shout to Gil @retro decals again for my request... Yes they are not the same font type as the original decals but prefer this type so it was on with the task in hand... I also fitted a new Tange 1" threaded sealed cartridge bearing headset and and the polished up cable hanger. Fitted a UN-72 bottom bracket, installed the seat post shim and polished the original seat post and this is where I'm up to currently........
More to follow soon as I've been busy restoring and polishing a few items for the build and will update as things progress. Everything is pretty much sourced and will be running a Deore XT 737 groupset and a set of XT hubs on FIR M123 rims but yet to decide on tyres though I've a few options in the garage. Will update again soon.......
Last edited:
