Teikoku Bicycle Frame (Paint Before & After)

  次回、この記事の日本語版を投稿します。

So far we have seen the Teikoku bicycle frame before disassembly,  how to remove the fork and clean up the chrome parts.  how to disassemble a cottered bottom bracket, and this week we will look at how to clean up the paint.

One of the prerequisites I have for a project is that I always try to find a bicycle whose original paint is salvageable.  To date, all my restorations have the original paint, with minor touch up of course. 

The paint on old bicycles is quite good and typically three layered.  It is enamel and laid on thick so compound cleans it up fairly well.  As is the case with anything, aways try it in an inconspicuous place and check the results prior to proceeding.

Compound comes in tubes or liquids, I prefer the liquid.  A typical "compound kit" containing three grades can be obtained from a local automotive store for 10 dollars.  These kits are for minor bodywork but are more than enough to do several bicycles.
(The steel wool is primarily for chrome as mentioned in a previous post.)

POINTER: When using compound start with the coarser grade and progressively work to the finest grade.  Apply the compound lightly and be very careful around decals/transfers/pin-striping.  Applying too much pressure or going over the same spot too many times will slowly remove the decals/pin-striping.

Let's compare before and after applying compound.

Head

Bottom Bracket

Fork

Seat Lug

Head