First build

This is my first build. I have posted for a while now but today was the first day I had where everything was in that allowed me to do my first step of painting the frame.

So far this build is going to be a retro/vintage looking Indian cruiser/board track racer.

The frame is a GT2A Skyhawk frame with 150mm drop out. The front forks are black powder coated 1 1/8" threadless Sunlite Deluxe double springer. Once my threadless stem arrives Monday I hope the paint to be cured enough to assemble the head set so I can cut my steer tube down to size then I will be using Eastwood Down to Metal paint and powdercoat stripper so I can paint the forks in the same color as the frame.

Anyways here are the photos I have taken from what I have done today.

Primered with Dupli-Color self etching primer

Base coat

Base Coat w/ Indian Script

First coat of clear

Second coat of clear

Third and final coat of clear

For me the shape of the frame resulted in some over spray with the clear so I am hoping when it comes to the buff stage after this clear had time to dry it will buff out. If not I still have some clear left over and I will simply put more clear where it needs it and just blend it in.

For those that are wondering the paint is 1949/1950 Dodge Red. This red as per PaintRef.com shows the mixing code is the same as Coke-Cola red. Which from my research a guy who had these bikes new said the closest match to Indian red was Coke-Cola red as that's what his guy did when there wasn't any Indian red for his bike he would use Coke-Cola red for a almost perfect match. The clear is automotive grade high gloss clear that I purchased from AutomotiveTouchup which is where the base coat came from as well. I have used their paint in the past for automotive and am very impressed with color matching even for 40+ year old vehicles that are sun bleached.

 

[FurryOnTheInside]

Also when dealing with a bike shop mechanic, offer to pay him in weed (and pay when the job is finished, not before!).

 

[CrazyDan]

There's a reason bicycle riders call it "green" energy .

 

[Rusty_S85]

Well I didn't take the bike I took just the hub in and the wheel I bought and said I wanted to swap the hub on the bike to this hub I have here. I never really fully disclosed its for a motor bike. The guy taking the order said what the hub is off of I told him the hub is for a motorized bike but didn't say I was using it for that. If he made that assumption that's on him as I could be using it for the threaded on disc brake adapter.

In any case I didn't even talk to the mechanic ever because hes only working Monday - Friday and I only been in on that one Saturday. But now tomorrow when I go in he should be there. Hopefully it goes well cause I am going to be honest, I find it very hard right now for me not to lose my s**t. When I called last Saturday this guy answered I said I'm calling in to check up on a wheel I dropped off. Then another guy got on the line and quickly asked me what did I drop the wheel off for, for a tube repair? I told him no I dropped a wheel off like 3 weeks ago to have a hub swapped out.

But if need be I will tell them if I have to sit here in the shop all day till they close at 7pm I will to ensure they work on my wheel. I could take the wheel from them but thing is they had it so long I am going to force them to make good on their work order I don't care to find some where else and have it sit for another week or so.

 

[CrazyDan]

I've wrenched for weed many times. Rebuilt a ford focus top end with a blown head gasket and warped head at the cost of weed to stay high while I worked. Got it done in about 7 hours spread over 3 days for like $35 of weed plus cost of parts. Had fun and learned a new engine. His computer failed a week later causing half the cylinders to not fire and the mechanic said it was not related and due to age and corrosion but the engine was rebuilt perfectly and wanted to know the shop that did it. The car was initially brought to him to rebuild but was too pricey, then the owner thought I messed up on the rebuild when the computer failed and didn't trust me to fix it and brought it to him to fix...to get burned for $800 for a computer .

 

[Frankenstein]

It would have taken less time to send it to my house via standard post, have me build it after putting it off for 3 or 4 days, and ship it back by the even slower snail-mail post.

Probably would cost 25% less at the end of it all too.

 

[CrazyDan]

Only reason to use a bike shop is for parts convenience imo, but I love to work with my hands. If willing to wait for parts I have no use for them, just marked up prices on parts they always never have on-hand and need to order from a place I can order from at the same prices. They tack on 50-100% for the couple minutes of typing. Only good for building wheels if you don't have the patience, everything else they can do you can also do quicker (backorders etc) with simple mechanical knowledge. Your shop, sadly, is failing at (imo) their only use...I'd snatch it and use the one 30 miles away. These guys are confused because its a hub they've never seen.

 

[Crisco]

Well I didn't take the bike I took just the hub in and the wheel I bought and said I wanted to swap the hub on the bike to this hub I have here. I never really fully disclosed its for a motor bike. The guy taking the order said what the hub is off of I told him the hub is for a motorized bike but didn't say I was using it for that. If he made that assumption that's on him as I could be using it for the threaded on disc brake adapter.

In any case I didn't even talk to the mechanic ever because hes only working Monday - Friday and I only been in on that one Saturday. But now tomorrow when I go in he should be there. Hopefully it goes well cause I am going to be honest, I find it very hard right now for me not to lose my sh*t. When I called last Saturday this guy answered I said I'm calling in to check up on a wheel I dropped off. Then another guy got on the line and quickly asked me what did I drop the wheel off for, for a tube repair? I told him no I dropped a wheel off like 3 weeks ago to have a hub swapped out.

But if need be I will tell them if I have to sit here in the shop all day till they close at 7pm I will to ensure they work on my wheel. I could take the wheel from them but thing is they had it so long I am going to force them to make good on their work order I don't care to find some where else and have it sit for another week or so.

That sucks bro... My LBS are the guys I ride with. All experienced in either BMX, MTB, or road racing for many years. Yes, you can do a lot yourself these days with being able to source cheap parts and specialised tools via the inet... but... when you have switched on guys who pride themselves on their knowledge and mechanical skills, I definitely don't mind slinging the work to them. Especially when it comes to wheel building..!

 

[CrazyDan]

Only reason a wheel build should take 3 weeks is if you brought it to the best bike shop in san fran with a 2.8 week backorder.

 

[Crisco]

Only reason a wheel build should take 3 weeks is if you brought it to the best bike shop in san fran with a 2.8 week backorder.

Hand extruded spokes into a manually beaten rim.. Ceramic bearings personally sourced by mechanic from an ancient Chinese quarry

 

[Rusty_S85]

They are busy but considering they told me friday it would be ready twice giving them a week it appears they really arent that busy. My order number is 98 which i dont know if its 98th order since monday which means almost 100 work orders in a week or if it was a day. Considering i was there 15 minutes after they opened i highly doubt they had 98 orders placed in 15 minutes.

Anways im getting dressed now and will head over there to find out whats going on. Will be hard for me to keep my cool cause i work on cars for a living and if we pulled this wed be out of business.