Patina. Show some!

[Woz]

Patina? 1910 - 1920 De Dion Bouton found in the village (the odds on that a about 1/100000). I really wanted this to work out. Sadly, it did not.



Patina, produces texture. Relief. surprises, visual wonder, I love it. Uncovering practically a century. Rust and ancient rubber.



How time uses and abuses stands out the most for me concerning patina. I love metal. I love how different metals age and transform.

 

[Woz]

I'm glad @highlandsflyer went ahead with this subject matter. We need more threads like this.

It's a tricky thing I think. I don't believe the world is divided around "for or against" patina nor modern vs. retro blah blah.

Talking to a stone mason here concerning aesthetics and functionality, he kind of summed it up, and I find it applies to bikes:

"There is rustic rotten, there is rustic nice.".

 

[MattiThundrrr]

How much neglect does it take to build a bicycle that can roll upside down?

 

[bikeworkshop]

Will definitely not be "repainting" this
I think in the 1880s paint was an expensive extra, so it might never have been painted at all!
I've got a plan with new tyres, so we might get it rideable over winter.
New chain on order

 

[Scott-S]

The size of that chain is incredible, are the tyres solid rubber or has it been upgraded to pneumatic over the years?

 

[greencat]

The faux patina looks like what it is to me. Not personally appealing.

I don't mind new or scratched/bit rusted/tatty providing it has structural integrity. Draw the line at dents. What I don't like is a brand new bike arriving scratched in the post. Similarly, if your bike is tatty, say so rather than dress it up with flowery language. I expect older used mountain bikes to be a bit tatty, but not scratched/rusted to buggery. That's a bike that's been utterly thrashed/neglected by the previous owner. Do the decent thing and recycle it if you aren't going to ride it anymore.

I don't mind pre-2nd world war bikes having that signature surface pitted rusty wiped over with a oily cloth look. They took the long way around, and they are unlikely to be daily riders.

 

[MattiThundrrr]

View attachment 910443
Will definitely not be "repainting" this
I think in the 1880s paint was an expensive extra, so it might never have been painted at all!
I've got a plan with new tyres, so we might get it rideable over winter. View attachment 910444
New chain on order

Block chain will be incredibly difficult to find, they stopped making it over fifty years ago. I would suggest boiled linseed oil for the frame, it works wonders on old steel. Makes the patina shine

 

[MattiThundrrr]

"Boiled linseed oil (crushed flaxseed) chemically changes the oil to allow the thin layer (wiped down) to dry in the air more quickly. Since linseed oil is (was) a base thinner for most oil-based paints, it complements the OLD PAINTS used on old bikes quite well, bringing back the color and luster. I suggest using this material on all old orig-paint frames, whether restoring, or removing old house paints brushed on. Wipe on liberally, then wipe off with an old absorbent towel. It is also very effective using 220 or 320 grit sandpaper dipped into a bowl of it to remove old paints while protecting the lower orig. paints...(slowly) Solvent-based oils can damage your old paints"

https://ratrodbikes.com/threads/linseed-oil-edjumaction.92183/

If I remember correctly, boiling process oxidizes the oil as well, so it actually brings old paint to life, as well as stops rust in its tracks and preserves against further weathering. Can also be removed without harm

 

[bikeworkshop]

30" wheels, possibly the first real bike with equal front and rear, the dawn of standard size. Sadly still solid...no tubular would stretch that far...

Chain is L506 plate link, still available

 

[grantoury]

I think patina is a deep and intricate layer of ageing that takes on a quality of its own. People have started to use the word for all rust, scratches and peeled decals to give a positive twist to a state that is simply unappealing. Not the same to me.