Want to get my bike painted...but what are my choices and more??

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Permalink Reply by Skip Montanaro 0mi on August 9, 2013 at 8:08am

Aaron Brown said:

I guess the only thing I'm concerned with is that he uses wet paint or should I be concerned...I mean wet paint looks as good as power coating if done right?...right...thanks

I'm sure he can make your frame look lovely. It is easier to apply a thin coat of paint than apply a thin coat of powder. Normally the reverse question is asked (can powder look as good as paint?).  As I indicated in an earlier reply, powder is often applied thicker than paint, which tends to obscure the shorelines of the lugs.

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Permalink Reply by Aaron Brown on August 9, 2013 at 8:21am

Also as a side note what paint job should I get just black again?....But keep in mind my new decals are in Celeste or Bianchi green...Thanks so much for helping me out guys

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Permalink Reply by BruceBikes on August 9, 2013 at 8:47am

I thought it was the other way around - wet paint usually looks better, but powder coating is more durable.

Aaron Brown said:

I guess the only thing I'm concerned with is that he uses wet paint or should I be concerned...I mean wet paint looks as good as power coating if done right?...right...thanks

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Permalink Reply by mark stetson on August 9, 2013 at 1:18pm

This was my point about powdercoating a lugged frame, it's probably not going to look as good as paint unless you get someone as experienced and fussy as Spectrum to do it.

I do have the equipment to use professional products, but this Basso was done with a Rustoleum spray bomb.  I posted the pic to show what can be done by anyone willing to put the effort into the prep work.  Even though it's SPX and was close to the top of the line in 1988 (frameset probably cost 1.5 X the cost of the Bianchi complete), I didn't think today's market for old steel bikes justified spending more money on it.  Decals are over the paint, and may crack as time goes on.  3 years after the job, it still looks as good as the day I finished it.  

Skip Montanaro 12mi said:

Powder coating may be a good option, but note that there is a certain skill required to apply it thinly enough that the shorelines of the lugs aren't obscured. Spectrum, in Colorado Springs, touts that as one of their particular skills.

Your Basso looks lovely on my smartphone's screen. Did you rattle can it or do you have proper equipment? Tubulars, too. I'm beginning to really love mine after renewing the relationship after a 40-year hiatus.

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Permalink Reply by mark stetson on August 9, 2013 at 1:33pm

I think they called it "near black" or something like that.  If you can get the original decals, I'd stick with that.  My Celeste Bianchi has blue decals, but I've seen red and (I think) black on Celeste.

Note that unless it's really rough, it will probably be worth less after the repaint than it is now.  People want original bikes, not repaints.  Most of us would rather have a few nicks and scratches than a repaint.  Here's what the Bass looked like when I got it:

 

Although super straight and rust free, with this frame there was no question about needing a repaint.

If you decide to repaint your Brava, have it done the way you want it.   But view the project in light of being satisfied with it for your own use, not expecting to increase its value. 

 

Aaron Brown said:

Also as a side note what paint job should I get just black again?....But keep in mind my new decals are in Celeste or Bianchi green...Thanks so much for helping me out guys

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Permalink Reply by John C. Wilson on August 9, 2013 at 4:04pm

If you use the Campy Veloce or any modern shifting system you will need correct spacing and accurate alignment. This is not a problem. Your painter can do the job and it will be low cost or no cost. Bike shops have to charge real $ for respacing, they have to remove the cranks, the BB, the rear derailleur, and then get it all together again and working. If it's a bare frame waiting for paint it's an easy job and arguably the job may end up getting done better.

If your painter cannot handle alignment get another painter. The usual paint job will include a basic alignment check and any minor alignment required will be at low cost or again, possibly, no cost.

Recreating 1987 is not going to happen. Finding good Bianchi decals is not hard, finding perfect  complete 1987 Brava decals is unlikely. Applying a complete set would be pricey. Since the modern gruppo totally alters the character of the bike just take the basic "better than new" paint job and do a basic DT, ST, headbadge decal set.

Take a look at the vintage restoration page at the Chester website. I am amazed someone with a base price so low is putting out work like that. I have seen a couple of the bikes featured there and they are amazing.

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Permalink Reply by mark stetson on August 9, 2013 at 5:37pm

Chester has does some nice bikes, I'm sure they would be up to the task.  A basic one color job looks like it's going to cost in the $350 range with clear over the decals.  Certainly not out of line as bike painting goes these days.  Chris Qvale in Minneapolis quoted me $450 for a similar job 2 years ago; I still haven't been able to bring myself to spend that much on a paint job - even on a bike I've owned for 20 years and am particularly fond of.  I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of Joe Bell's don't cost twice that much.

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