Re-enamel for the Carlton!

Posted by: u5227470736789439 on 28 January 2010

Been hunting about for a place I can get to reasonably easily to make the old girl "posh" again!

This not going to be cheap! I thought rather than keeping the metallic light green [I dislike metal or pearlescent finishes], I would opt for a block colour, and British Racing Green looks a nice understated colour in keeping. I'll keep the Magnolia on the steering tube, as this is "very Carlton" in its oddity! The only transfer I would need is for this place. The others are not in my view any enhancement of the line of the rather spare but graceful old frame.

Also BRG is available in a super-tough enamel.

Argos Cycles, Bristol. I will wait till a bit better weather though, but it is my next project. Seems crazy to spend on an old bike, but I have never ridden such a machine, and need nothing finer! I don't fancy a carbon fibre bike. I bet that I would break it over the lovely new potholes that are appearing everywhere in Worcester. The only risk with the Carlton [only the lower grade of Reynolds - 501 - tubing] is breaking a tyre or wheel!

Funny how making such a decision is pleasing! I have also found a proper fork for it, though it needs re-chroming, which they can do! Oh goodness this is an expensive game!

ATB from George
Posted on: 28 January 2010 by BigH47
Not worth it for a Vauxhall. Smile

Are you talking stove enamelling, George? That would make it pretty weather proof, have had scooter frames done in the past.

You need a good guy though , little things like keeping threads, tube ends and raceways etc clear, bearing in mind it will have to go in an oven so the protection should be able to stand high temps.
Once on it is a proverbial bastard to get off.

Chroming could open another can of worms, if doing it go for the best, I think if memory serves it would be a three layer process after a bead blast acid was , then a nickel , but then copper and finally a good thick chrome, masking unwanted areas again.

Chroming

BRG always looks good IMO.
Posted on: 28 January 2010 by Calum F
[QUOTE]Originally posted by BigH47:
Not worth it for a Vauxhall. Smile
QUOTE]

I'm with you, but if it was a Lotus Carlton this is a classic and worth some investment.
Posted on: 28 January 2010 by Jono 13
George,

Try these chaps:

Griffin Enamellers

Tel: 01905 350511
Unit 4, Navigation Rd, Worcester, Worcestershire WR5 3DF

They are local and very good. They can do powder or wet coating of any colour you want.

The jobs they have done for me have survived very harsh treatment.

I will post a contact name for you in the morning.

Jono
Posted on: 29 January 2010 by u5227470736789439
Dear Jono,

Thanks for this.

ATB from George
Posted on: 29 January 2010 by Jono 13
George,

Speak to Steve at Griffin, my normal contact there.

They tend to finish at 3.00pm.

Jono
Posted on: 29 January 2010 by fixedwheel
George

Don't do a powder coat, it just doesn't do justice to it. You never get the beautiful wet gloss finish. It's also an absolute b'stard to get off if you want to do it again. Also just about impossible to get sharp transitions between colours, if they will even contemplate doing two colours.

OK for a utility bike. That's all though. IMHO

Stove enammeling is the way to go, and somebody that does bike frames is essential. The tubes, even 501, are very thin and can be blown away by over enthusiastic blasting. 853 can go down as low as 0.4mm in the central sections! 501 will probably go down to 0.7mm or 0.8mm, which doesn't give a lot of spare meat to work with.

You also need the right tools to clean the threads out afterwards, one of the threads on the bottom bracket shell is left handed.

Argos aren't cheap, but have a great reputation for quality work. Bob Jackson Cycles in Leeds are another. Dave Yates has done three frames for me, my two custom frames, and my Raleigh Special Products track frame.

HTH

John
Posted on: 30 January 2010 by u5227470736789439
I had my old Royal Enfield [1941 Model "CO" 350 single] powder coated in 2000, but this was an improvement on the very rough black [1946] "civvy" paint job Enfield did on recycled Army bikes at a time when all new production was for export.

The Carlton does diserve enamel I suspect! And Argos is a frame-building company, and as it is easy to get to, they are probably the people to use. I am going to give her some TLC this afternoon. Three In One and a bit of Brasso on the wheels, and general bit of buffing up after a soapy wash yesterday.

Potential session [on the lash] postponed!

No photos possible because the camera is absent without leave!

ATB from George
Posted on: 22 February 2010 by u5227470736789439
Breaking news.

My one favourite work colleague wants the [****] Raleigh, that I brought back to life, which is a relief! I rode the Carlton through thick and thin, cold and ice this winter to work in spite of the tyres being patently useless on snow or ice!

I could not face the wobbly, heavy and soft framed Raleigh!

I used it for four commutes, and the bracket on the handlebar released the bar because the thread broke out on the Allen bolts attaching it ... Poor casting. No doubt the Raleigh was intended for a less ferocious rider than me ...

But my friend offered to buy it for his brother in law ready for a relaxed cycling holiday in the summer ... Apart from the bar it is in superb fettle.

Today he asked if I would swap it for his Peugeot road bike. He is sixty and finds the drop bars a strain now, so when I protested that the swap was not even he assured me that he would rather see the Peugeot be with a loving and energetic owner than gradually fade in the garden shed.

This is good, because the Pug is slightly smaller than the Carlton [so will fit] and I rode it once! Very nice, and it has lugs for mudguards for the winter as well! The Carlton is so spare that the only excess weight is the little hook for putting the chain onto while taking the rear wheel out.

The two will complement each other, and the Pug will serve as commute while the Carlton gets its enamel job later in the Spring.

Very pleasing. I will get some photos when back from Spain. Back onto normal film for the while so they will need developing first!

Reynolds 501 tubing [like the Carlton], but not got quite the responsive feel of the Carlton, but still nice!

ATB from George