So I've talked with a buddy a few times about modern paint vs paint "back in the day". We've agreed that today's paint just looks different than the old stuff. A while back I found some NOS bicycle enamel at the SoCal Cycle Swap. Shook the cans and found that it was still liquid, so home with me they went.
I didn't know if it would be usable or not, so figured there was one good way to find out: try it
Took a frame, fork, chainguard, and fender to El Monte plating and had them strip all the paint and corrosion from the parts.
Since I wasn't sure if the paint would work, I did no prep beyond red oxide primer out of a can.
At the time I only had an airbrush handy so that's what I used. :eek: (Hey, whatever works!)
I put several coats on and was immediately tickled to see how the paint was smoothing out as it dried.
Now this is >50yr old real-deal enamel here, so let's just say that it didn't dry overnight, but once it did I was digging the result.
Going for a distressed look on this Rollfast.
A quick wet sand with 1200 then a buff with Flitz brought the paint to how you see it now.
It's tough to capture in the pics, but it really does look like the paint is original on this bike. I guess it should though, 'coz it is!
Since then I've bought some other colors at swaps and through eBay. I'm looking forward to using them on other projects as I go.
So if you want to try something different and use some authentic original paint, be on the lookout for some of these old cans, give 'em a shake, and give it a try
I didn't know if it would be usable or not, so figured there was one good way to find out: try it
Took a frame, fork, chainguard, and fender to El Monte plating and had them strip all the paint and corrosion from the parts.
Since I wasn't sure if the paint would work, I did no prep beyond red oxide primer out of a can.
At the time I only had an airbrush handy so that's what I used. :eek: (Hey, whatever works!
)I put several coats on and was immediately tickled to see how the paint was smoothing out as it dried.
Now this is >50yr old real-deal enamel here, so let's just say that it didn't dry overnight, but once it did I was digging the result.
Going for a distressed look on this Rollfast.
A quick wet sand with 1200 then a buff with Flitz brought the paint to how you see it now.
It's tough to capture in the pics, but it really does look like the paint is original on this bike. I guess it should though, 'coz it is!
Since then I've bought some other colors at swaps and through eBay. I'm looking forward to using them on other projects as I go.
So if you want to try something different and use some authentic original paint, be on the lookout for some of these old cans, give 'em a shake, and give it a try
