A little "remodelling" surprise
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Twin Cities
Posts: 927
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 206 Post(s)
Liked 102 Times
in
46 Posts
A little "remodelling" surprise
I've been rebuilding a 1974 Raleigh International and things have been going pretty well. I decided to rattle-can it and seal it with 2-part clear coat. Things were going pretty well until I removed the masking tape from the Nervex lugs. I figured I'd have some touch-up to do - both removing and adding paint where it was needed. My surprise came when I started doing some of the fine work and realized that even though the International is an upper end bike, it is still a mass production bike that can suffer from different levels of attention to detail. I know the Nervex stuff is intricate, but the level of finishing of the brazed areas was at best - rough. I don't think there's one part of the joint that is smooth and nicely finished. In the end, I was relegated to getting it finished as nicely as possible (which is still pretty decent from a few feet away). I'm not disappointed - I'm pretty sure the bike will look good and ride very nicely. I was just a little surprised. Here's the head tube prior to doing the final finishing work.
__________________
Some days, it's not even worth gnawing through the restraints.
Some days, it's not even worth gnawing through the restraints.
Likes For ddeand:
#2
Senior Member
Some Raleighs were built after a few lunch beers at the local watering hole.
You could try a paint pen to do some lug lining and see if that helps clean it up a bit.
You could try a paint pen to do some lug lining and see if that helps clean it up a bit.
Likes For Narhay:
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Bloomington, IN
Posts: 2,938
Bikes: Paramount, Faggin, Ochsner, Ciocc, Basso
Mentioned: 115 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1297 Post(s)
Liked 1,896 Times
in
1,135 Posts
+1 on the lug lining. That should clean it up nicely. Smiles, MH
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: PDX
Posts: 13,026
Bikes: Merz x 5 + Specialized Merz Allez x 2, Strawberry/Newlands/DiNucci/Ti x3, Gordon, Fuso/Moulton x2, Bornstein, Paisley,1958-74 Paramounts x3, 3rensho, 74 Moto TC, 73-78 Raleigh Pro's x5, Marinoni x2, 1960 Cinelli SC, 1980 Bianchi SC, PX-10 X 2
Mentioned: 267 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4505 Post(s)
Liked 6,373 Times
in
3,665 Posts
Despite the greatly varying QC issues, Raleigh's production was nothing short of amazing,100,000's of frames flying out the doors and we still have many, many of them to drool, ogle, fawn and obsess over, most being solid, beautiful well made examples very far down the line.
Likes For merziac:
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Alta California
Posts: 14,242
Mentioned: 415 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3802 Post(s)
Liked 3,324 Times
in
2,170 Posts
-----
paintin' suggestion -
masking something as intricate as the NERVEX Professional pattern with masking tape is pretty tedious
for smallish wiggly bits like this it is easier to use one of the liquid mask products which are made to apply with a small brush
---
Raleigh QC -
during the boom can recall visiting the showroom o' me local agent. there were Reynolds tubing models on display where you could put your fingernail betwixt the lug and the tube...
-----
paintin' suggestion -
masking something as intricate as the NERVEX Professional pattern with masking tape is pretty tedious
for smallish wiggly bits like this it is easier to use one of the liquid mask products which are made to apply with a small brush
---
Raleigh QC -
during the boom can recall visiting the showroom o' me local agent. there were Reynolds tubing models on display where you could put your fingernail betwixt the lug and the tube...
-----
#6
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Twin Cities
Posts: 927
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 206 Post(s)
Liked 102 Times
in
46 Posts
I did that, too. I taped the head tube lugs and used liquid mask on the fork lugs - both worked about the same. This was the first time I had masked or taped lugs, so a great deal of quality of the results must be attributed to incompetence on my part. Actually, I might be tempted to just do the detail paint freehand next time. The frame and fork are, for the most part, stunning on several levels. I’ve learned a lot doing this project!
__________________
Some days, it's not even worth gnawing through the restraints.
Some days, it's not even worth gnawing through the restraints.
#7
Master Parts Rearranger
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Portlandia's Kuiper Belt, OR
Posts: 4,402
Bikes: 1982 Trek 720 - 1985 Trek 620 - 1984 Trek 620 - 1980 Trek 510 - Other luminaries past and present
Mentioned: 221 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1556 Post(s)
Liked 2,023 Times
in
989 Posts
-----
paintin' suggestion -
masking something as intricate as the NERVEX Professional pattern with masking tape is pretty tedious
for smallish wiggly bits like this it is easier to use one of the liquid mask products which are made to apply with a small brush
---
Raleigh QC -
during the boom can recall visiting the showroom o' me local agent. there were Reynolds tubing models on display where you could put your fingernail betwixt the lug and the tube...
-----
paintin' suggestion -
masking something as intricate as the NERVEX Professional pattern with masking tape is pretty tedious
for smallish wiggly bits like this it is easier to use one of the liquid mask products which are made to apply with a small brush
---
Raleigh QC -
during the boom can recall visiting the showroom o' me local agent. there were Reynolds tubing models on display where you could put your fingernail betwixt the lug and the tube...
-----
Likes For RiddleOfSteel:
#8
Bike Butcher of Portland
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 11,630
Bikes: It's complicated.
Mentioned: 1299 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4677 Post(s)
Liked 5,790 Times
in
2,279 Posts
I’m surprised that the OP is surprised that the finish work on an International isn’t most excellent.
Old Raleighs can look great from 10’. If someone were to give me a set of Nervex lugs today and asked me to build a frame with them, I’d probably quote double and hope the buyer got the hint.
You did a great job, btw!
Old Raleighs can look great from 10’. If someone were to give me a set of Nervex lugs today and asked me to build a frame with them, I’d probably quote double and hope the buyer got the hint.
You did a great job, btw!
Likes For gugie:
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: PDX
Posts: 13,026
Bikes: Merz x 5 + Specialized Merz Allez x 2, Strawberry/Newlands/DiNucci/Ti x3, Gordon, Fuso/Moulton x2, Bornstein, Paisley,1958-74 Paramounts x3, 3rensho, 74 Moto TC, 73-78 Raleigh Pro's x5, Marinoni x2, 1960 Cinelli SC, 1980 Bianchi SC, PX-10 X 2
Mentioned: 267 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4505 Post(s)
Liked 6,373 Times
in
3,665 Posts
-----
paintin' suggestion -
masking something as intricate as the NERVEX Professional pattern with masking tape is pretty tedious
for smallish wiggly bits like this it is easier to use one of the liquid mask products which are made to apply with a small brush
---
Raleigh QC -
during the boom can recall visiting the showroom o' me local agent. there were Reynolds tubing models on display where you could put your fingernail betwixt the lug and the tube...
-----
paintin' suggestion -
masking something as intricate as the NERVEX Professional pattern with masking tape is pretty tedious
for smallish wiggly bits like this it is easier to use one of the liquid mask products which are made to apply with a small brush
---
Raleigh QC -
during the boom can recall visiting the showroom o' me local agent. there were Reynolds tubing models on display where you could put your fingernail betwixt the lug and the tube...
-----
#10
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Twin Cities
Posts: 927
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 206 Post(s)
Liked 102 Times
in
46 Posts
I’m surprised that the OP is surprised that the finish work on an International isn’t most excellent.
Old Raleighs can look great from 10’. If someone were to give me a set of Nervex lugs today and asked me to build a frame with them, I’d probably quote double and hope the buyer got the hint.
You did a great job, btw!
Old Raleighs can look great from 10’. If someone were to give me a set of Nervex lugs today and asked me to build a frame with them, I’d probably quote double and hope the buyer got the hint.
You did a great job, btw!
__________________
Some days, it's not even worth gnawing through the restraints.
Some days, it's not even worth gnawing through the restraints.
#11
1/2 as far in 2x the time
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Northern Bergen County, NJ
Posts: 1,746
Bikes: Yes, Please.
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 499 Post(s)
Liked 285 Times
in
222 Posts
When it comes to doing repaints, I’m still pretty much a novice. I’m reworking a mystery frame with some high quality lugs but not the complexity of the Nervex lugs, and it’s obvious that they are more amenable to finishing. But those twisty lugs are so pretty! In the end, this bike should look pretty decent from a few feet, and that’s all I want. Thanks!
The paint looks good! Lug lining was often used to hide the excess brazing material you "found".
+1 on the liquid mask.
Can you comment on the 2k clearcoat? Was it applied before the headtube picture? Does fine wet sanding improve it. Does it actually make rattle can harder to chip?
Cheers, Eric
Last edited by Last ride 76; 04-24-20 at 11:17 AM.
#12
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Twin Cities
Posts: 927
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 206 Post(s)
Liked 102 Times
in
46 Posts
The paint looks good! Lug lining was often used to hide the excess brazing material you "found".
+1 on the liquid mask.
Can you comment on the 2k clearcoat? Was it applied before the headtube picture? Does fine wet sanding improve it. Does it actually make rattle can harder to chip?
Cheers, Eric
+1 on the liquid mask.
Can you comment on the 2k clearcoat? Was it applied before the headtube picture? Does fine wet sanding improve it. Does it actually make rattle can harder to chip?
Cheers, Eric
__________________
Some days, it's not even worth gnawing through the restraints.
Some days, it's not even worth gnawing through the restraints.