LexRides Forum Index LexRides
Lexington's Bike Forum
 
 FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups   RegisterRegister 
 ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 

Does anyone in Lexington braze?
Goto page 1, 2  Next
 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    LexRides Forum Index -> Mechanical Questions
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
LarryG
training wheels
training wheels


Joined: 06 Jan 2008
Posts: 18
Location: South Lexington

PostPosted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 8:58 am    Post subject: Does anyone in Lexington braze? Reply with quote

I have an old bike that I want to get powdercoated, but one of the top-tube cable guides is broken. Is there any one in town that can braze a piece on a bike?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
politicalhero
cutter
cutter


Joined: 22 Oct 2007
Posts: 657
Location: Sexy Lexi on the Southside

PostPosted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 5:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Does anyone know if Alex Meade can braze?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website AIM Address
bryant
hipster
hipster


Joined: 25 Oct 2007
Posts: 111

PostPosted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 5:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Alex Meade would know. I'll send you a private message with his email.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
brokebike
cutter
cutter


Joined: 21 Oct 2007
Posts: 2434
Location: local

PostPosted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 6:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

politicalhero wrote:
Does anyone know if Alex Meade can braze?


Brad's new porteur rack appears to be brazed, and Alex made it. Also, I've seen bikes of his that were lugged... so I'm guessing the answer is yes.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
LarryG
training wheels
training wheels


Joined: 06 Jan 2008
Posts: 18
Location: South Lexington

PostPosted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 1:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

bryant wrote:
Alex Meade would know. I'll send you a private message with his email.


Got in touch with him & it looks like he'll be able to do it. Thanks.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
LarryG
training wheels
training wheels


Joined: 06 Jan 2008
Posts: 18
Location: South Lexington

PostPosted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 10:20 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

An update: I took the frame to Alex, and he performed a beautiful repair for $20. The repair will be undetectable (not that I really cared) after painting.

I dropped the f/f off at Metal Cleaners for a powdercoat job. They quoted $100 and two weeks. W'll see how that part goes.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
brokebike
cutter
cutter


Joined: 21 Oct 2007
Posts: 2434
Location: local

PostPosted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 7:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I just took this fella in to Metal Cleaners this afternoon. This has been a project of mine that was shelved about 3 years ago, but was long overdue for some love. With any luck, I'll have it up and running again before Bike Lexington.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
mcrib
townie
townie


Joined: 24 Oct 2007
Posts: 232
Location: 40502

PostPosted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 7:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

It is funny that everyone that takes a bike there seems to pay a different price
_________________
Albert Einstein trembled when he found out time was water. Seeping through the rafters to put out this burning world.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
brokebike
cutter
cutter


Joined: 21 Oct 2007
Posts: 2434
Location: local

PostPosted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 8:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

mcrib wrote:
It is funny that everyone that takes a bike there seems to pay a different price


This is my 3rd frame with them. First was $75, second was $50, and now this one is $100. Granted, the first two were several years ago, so I figured the cost would definitely be inflated a bit more now.

after talking to a few other paint shops and powdercoating places in the area, it seems most people are wise to how the guys at Metal Cleaners operate.

Last week, I spoke with one of the guys at Perfect Auto (on the corner of High & Rose) and he was joking that whenever they send stuff to Metal Cleaners, they just send it along with one of their employee's wives, because they get cheaper quotes that way.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
LarryG
training wheels
training wheels


Joined: 06 Jan 2008
Posts: 18
Location: South Lexington

PostPosted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 7:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Got my frame & fork back today from Metal Cleaners. It's an old lugged Stumpjumper made in a small Japanese factory. The powdercoat job they did was really nice. They sandblasted it first & even hit the inside of the bb shell. There was a lot of chrome on the frame, but they roughed it all up before coating. The powdercoat is even and thick, not too glossy but it looks like it will hold up well.

The only thing they skimped on was the masking. They stuffed tape into the tubes, but it was just wadded in. There was powder inside the headtube, seattube, and on the last few bb threads. When I picked the frame up, I told the guy that I would have to hone out all the tubes to get my headset and seatpost in. He pshawed me & said "just jam them in, the fit isn't that precise". I didn't bother to correct him.

They masked off the brake studs on the fork, but not the frame. They masked the steerer tube, but not the part on the fork where the bottom of the crown race fits. I guess that's OK, because I can see how that kind of masking would consume a lot of time.

So be aware that you will have to put some time into prepping the frame before re-assembly. I spent some time on it today with a Dremel tool & flap sanding wheel, and I'll hit the brake studs with a wire wheel tomorrow. I'll probably take the frame into a shop to get the bb threads chased.

All in all, I'm still satisfied, because the frame looks really good & $100 isn't that much for a sandblast & powder coat.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
brokebike
cutter
cutter


Joined: 21 Oct 2007
Posts: 2434
Location: local

PostPosted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 8:37 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

That's funny, I also picked up my Cycle Truck frame from Metal Cleaners yesterday afternoon. The guy asked me if I knew you because he said that there was another frame to be picked up that day, and he said that in talking with you, he found out that there was "some website out there with a bunch of bikers on it" recommending their powder coat services.

I think the price is reasonable for what they offer, and you can't beat the durability of powdercoat for a bike frame, even if your color choices are somewhat limited. They do what they need to as far as trying to mask off the most obvious parts of the tubing, but the interaction you had with that guy when he said "just jam them in..." illustrates that they aren't familiar enough with the anatomy and mechanics of bikes to do it perfectly. Which, you can't really fault them for that... besides, I'd rather spend an hour or so with a Dremel and a brass wire brush getting all that shit cleaned out like it should be, rather than trusting someone else to do it with masking tape.

I'll try to post some pics in the next few days of my re-build once I find the time to work on it.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
elzie5000
cutter
cutter


Joined: 25 Oct 2007
Posts: 1177

PostPosted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 9:32 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Would it be possible to mask the important parts of a frame yourself before taking it to them? I mean, would they accept it that way?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
alex
I break bones for polo.
I break bones for polo.


Joined: 23 Oct 2007
Posts: 309
Location: at home

PostPosted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 10:31 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

no, they'd take it off
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
brokebike
cutter
cutter


Joined: 21 Oct 2007
Posts: 2434
Location: local

PostPosted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 11:12 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

elzie5000 wrote:
Would it be possible to mask the important parts of a frame yourself before taking it to them? I mean, would they accept it that way?


alex wrote:
no, they'd take it off


reason being, they would sandblast it before powder coating it, and blasting would negate any taping beforehand...

I doubt the same guy would be doing the whole job throughout the process, and it would be even more doubtful that he would take the time to make note of where you had taped it so that he could re-tape after before powder coating.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
LarryG
training wheels
training wheels


Joined: 06 Jan 2008
Posts: 18
Location: South Lexington

PostPosted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 11:17 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I finished cleaning up the frame today. I was able to use gel-type paint stripper to take the powder off the brake studs & crown race seat. I carefully applied a little at a time, let it bubble for 5 minutes & then scraped. It worked, but not quickly. It also worked for the bb threads.

Two useful Dremel attachments were the flip-wheel sander (for honing the insides of the head and set tubes), and small rotary wire brush.

It's now electric blue. For a 23-year old bike, it looks prety cool.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    LexRides Forum Index -> Mechanical Questions All times are GMT - 6 Hours
Goto page 1, 2  Next
Page 1 of 2

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum


Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group