Frame restoration/ overhaul/ transformation

[Cruz Addict]

hey guys, ok so this is my SS project but will be moving what i learn to my Mrs's MTB when i am done depending on how it comes out.

i had a Merida TFS300 frame donated to the cause and wanted a unique look so its been sandblasted clean and will soon be going in for a complete color( am going to have her anodized in either Red or Orange depending on how i feel on the day)

now comes the difficult part.

 

i want to have the Merida logo, branding and model etc lazer engraved back onto the frame after the anodizing but for the life of me am unable to find a company that has a rig big enough to take a bike frame, all the companies i have spoken to have a "table" that can take small things but not a frame.

does anyone know if a company that does laser engraving that will be able to assist in the JHB area?

any help would be greatly appreciated.

[V12man]

hey guys, ok so this is my SS project but will be moving what i learn to my Mrs's MTB when i am done depending on how it comes out.

i had a Merida TFS300 frame donated to the cause and wanted a unique look so its been sandblasted clean and will soon be going in for a complete color( am going to have her anodized in either Red or Orange depending on how i feel on the day)

now comes the difficult part.

 

i want to have the Merida logo, branding and model etc lazer engraved back onto the frame after the anodizing but for the life of me am unable to find a company that has a rig big enough to take a bike frame, all the companies i have spoken to have a "table" that can take small things but not a frame.

does anyone know if a company that does laser engraving that will be able to assist in the JHB area?

any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

How about getting a mask cut and gently sandblasting the logo after the anodising - a very fine low power blast would probably work - I know a company that could probably do that for you - he normally does decorative sandblasting onto glass - probably worth getting some sample bit of alloy anodised for an experiment first....

[Grebel]

I like what V12 man suggested! In addition to that, have you thought about a chemical strip of the frame paint instead of sandblasting? Sandblasting is a very aggressive way to remove paint and there will be material sacrifice. To achieve a really nice Candy type anodising finish, you should polish the frame to a mirror finish prior to the anodising process. This gives the best results. If you are happy with the matt finish, I would suggest glass bead blasting instead of sand blasting as it is less aggressive and will give you a "smoother" finish.

 

I would have a chat to the anodiser first though. They will be able to give you loads of advice.

[CAAD4]

Before you have it anodised, grind off all of those cable guides (vbrake mounts?)that you will no longer need. It gives it a nice clean look.. I also dremeled the cable guides on my horizontal tube in order to run a continuous rear brake cable. No you will never ride it geared again, so don't worry about it.

[fabs]

hey guys, ok so this is my SS project but will be moving what i learn to my Mrs's MTB when i am done depending on how it comes out.

i had a Merida TFS300 frame donated to the cause and wanted a unique look so its been sandblasted clean and will soon be going in for a complete color( am going to have her anodized in either Red or Orange depending on how i feel on the day)

now comes the difficult part.

 

i want to have the Merida logo, branding and model etc lazer engraved back onto the frame after the anodizing but for the life of me am unable to find a company that has a rig big enough to take a bike frame, all the companies i have spoken to have a "table" that can take small things but not a frame.

does anyone know if a company that does laser engraving that will be able to assist in the JHB area?

any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Hi DaddyG.

 

Just be aware that the laser etching on the frame will then be a carbon black colour finish?

Was this your intention? It will not be the colour of the sandblasted steel underneath.

[fabs]

Hi DaddyG.

 

Just be aware that the laser etching on the frame will then be a carbon black colour finish?

Was this your intention? It will not be the colour of the sandblasted steel underneath.

 

There might just be a technical issue though.

 

Laser etching likes flat surfaces or mildly rounded.

The fact that you are trying to etch on a tube, depending on the size/curvature, could be the problem.

[blind]

I also have a frame that I ant to get resprayed for my gf. Who can respray a frame for me with a custom design? Wont be any fancy graphics.

[shaper]

I also have a frame that I ant to get resprayed for my gf. Who can respray a frame for me with a custom design? Wont be any fancy graphics.

 

Try http://cycledelic.co.za/

[Cruz Addict]

hey all, thanks for the replies, so here are my thoughts and what i have done so far.the cable guides have all been removed and ground flat. frame is a perfect SS frame now.the anodizing guys have suggested i keep the frame slightly rough as i prefer a matt look and the sandblasted texture works well for this. i am not really fussed as to how the branding comes out, would prefer to have nice and shiny but if it comes up black thats going to work just as well as it will match the wheels.am not to worried about the damage the sandblasting has done as the bike will not really take any punishment its a chilled play bike, i have my ransom for doing stupid *** on.V12man the gentle sandblasting is a nice idea and will probably give the desired effect but seems to be an expensive way to do it, its peoples time from what i can tell vs programming into a computer and letting it do the work. i may be wrong so will need to do some checking, please could you send on some details and ill give them a shout.have found guys that do lazer engraving on missiles so will see what they can do as well. i suspect that may be a little extreme but can only ask i suppose

Edited September 26, 2013 by DaddyG

[V12man]

V12man the gentle sandblasting is a nice idea and will probably give the desired effect but seems to be an expensive way to do it, its peoples time from what i can tell vs programming into a computer and letting it do the work. i may be wrong so will need to do some checking, please could you send on some details and ill give them a shout.have found guys that do lazer engraving on missiles so will see what they can do as well. i suspect that may be a little extreme but can only ask i suppose

 

http://hpsandblast.wix.com/hp-sandblast

 

And he is not expensive - especially if you can download the graphics for him - he actually sandblasted a whole frame for me for about 150... Don't think he will be doing that again.... He also cut out the masking templates for me I used to do the logos on my SS - seem to remember that was about R50...

 

Probably best to go and see him with some anodising samples...

[Cruz Addict]

flip ok cool will definitely give him a shout then. thanks.

[shaper]

How much is it costing you to annodize the frame?

[Cruz Addict]

How much is it costing you to annodize the frame?

R300 but thats for the anodizing only, the sandblasting was also R300.probably another R300 odd for the logo work so about R900 from start to finish on the frame from what i can tell. maybe a little more or less but thats about where its at. Edited September 26, 2013 by DaddyG

[Pure Savage]

R300 but thats for the anodizing only, the sandblasting was also R300.probably another R300 odd for the logo work so about R900 from start to finish on the frame from what i can tell. maybe a little more or less but thats about where its at.

 

What place did you take it to get frame anodised?

 

Any pics of it?

[Dubber]

so, where the pics?