Mr. Monkeyarms
Cruisin' on my Bluebird
Happy Thanksgiving!!
I have had a pretty crazy year. Work has a tendency to consume me, had a car accident in May that I probably should not have survived and got my Daughter married in September. With 3 days off last month and decided to take advantage of a long weekend and decent weather. Instead of traveling to enjoy time with my family, I would hole up in the garage (with my other loved one's, Lol!) and attempt to build another bike and get some much needed therapy....
I picked up this one year only project from a friend and member of the Denver Old Bikes Club at Veloswap last year. It was updated in the early '50s judging by the Bendix lever operated 2 speed wheelset with New Departure front hub. It had girls handlebars and the seat is pretty jacked up and missing upholstery.
It was also barn painted when last fixed up. The original paint had been stripped before the new paint was applied as well.
I considered my options as to how I want to make this a rider again and decided to sand the brush marks out of the barn painted and try to replicate the original paint scheme by adding ivory stripes between the ribs of the tank and the darts in the chainguard. I will then blend the new paint and any newly exposed metal to match the age of the bike.
Got the bike broke down.
Started sanding the frame and got the front triangle done before calling it a day to have some Thanksgiving dinner. Need to finish the frame, the right side of the tank and chainguard in the morning. Should be warm enough to get some paint on them and they can cure while I sand the rest of the parts. Want to have that done tomorrow.
Cold, rain/snow on Saturday will be spent cleaning/rebuilding hubs, bottom bracket and headset. True wheels Sunday and assemble.
That's the plan anyway. Should get a coat of wax on the paint too. Plus all chrome parts were brush painted with silver paint that needs to be removed. Looks like decent chrome underneath.
This is pretty ambitious to get done in a long weekend so we will see. If needed, I have a garage full of parts so Plan B through ??? may need to be employed to have a rider at the end of the weekend. And after some much needed Garage Therapy a big smile!
I have had a pretty crazy year. Work has a tendency to consume me, had a car accident in May that I probably should not have survived and got my Daughter married in September. With 3 days off last month and decided to take advantage of a long weekend and decent weather. Instead of traveling to enjoy time with my family, I would hole up in the garage (with my other loved one's, Lol!) and attempt to build another bike and get some much needed therapy....
I picked up this one year only project from a friend and member of the Denver Old Bikes Club at Veloswap last year. It was updated in the early '50s judging by the Bendix lever operated 2 speed wheelset with New Departure front hub. It had girls handlebars and the seat is pretty jacked up and missing upholstery.
It was also barn painted when last fixed up. The original paint had been stripped before the new paint was applied as well.
I considered my options as to how I want to make this a rider again and decided to sand the brush marks out of the barn painted and try to replicate the original paint scheme by adding ivory stripes between the ribs of the tank and the darts in the chainguard. I will then blend the new paint and any newly exposed metal to match the age of the bike.
Got the bike broke down.
Started sanding the frame and got the front triangle done before calling it a day to have some Thanksgiving dinner. Need to finish the frame, the right side of the tank and chainguard in the morning. Should be warm enough to get some paint on them and they can cure while I sand the rest of the parts. Want to have that done tomorrow.
Cold, rain/snow on Saturday will be spent cleaning/rebuilding hubs, bottom bracket and headset. True wheels Sunday and assemble.
That's the plan anyway. Should get a coat of wax on the paint too. Plus all chrome parts were brush painted with silver paint that needs to be removed. Looks like decent chrome underneath.
This is pretty ambitious to get done in a long weekend so we will see. If needed, I have a garage full of parts so Plan B through ??? may need to be employed to have a rider at the end of the weekend. And after some much needed Garage Therapy a big smile!