Bicycle Tutor

Hello, I want to get started fixing up a 1973 Schwinn Varsity basically for the heck of it. Thought fun to use on pub nite rides. Very much a newbie. Was planning on taking apart and cleaning. Would like to repaint frame. This is not going to be a collectors item. A place near me will strip the paint and powder coat. Concerned about decals. Can I just use vinyle peal and stick or is that a bad idea? Thanks in advance.

(Aug 21, 2012 12:23 PM)dochoot Wrote:  Hello, I want to get started fixing up a 1973 Schwinn Varsity basically for the heck of it. Thought fun to use on pub nite rides. Very much a newbie. Was planning on taking apart and cleaning. Would like to repaint frame. This is not going to be a collectors item. A place near me will strip the paint and powder coat. Concerned about decals. Can I just use vinyle peal and stick or is that a bad idea? Thanks in advance.

Carefully consider the cost of a qualitystrip or sandblast and powdercoat of the bike's frame and whether there is any underlying value to the bike and its mission to justify the cost. In my city I hear $200 to $300 for what is probably mediocre quality. You should be able to find decals on ebay, eventually. Clear coat over them.

Make sure that you plug/mask all the critical holes and surfaces. It is VERY VERY difficult clean out powder coat from surfaces that must be bare. Many a bike restorer has had to either give up on making the frame into a bike or spent 2½X planned amount on strippin the brand new powder coat off, properly plugging and masking and re-powder coating. Use a shop that has satisified bike customers for powder coating, they are worth the extra $$.

Thanks for tips. Will check to see how experienced they are.

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