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The dirty white looks good to me but I really like the dark red idea with the black bike.
Well, technically it’s not dirty white! (Also note @handyandy1100 ) I’m not sure what Murray was thinking, these cables are actually pristine : they are just a very light olive green!

I do like the color, but scored some decals for the bike that have gold in them and I’m afraid these cables, as-is might compete with the gold decals. I’m going to dunk them in something, but not sure what!
 
You’re 100% right on this….. I just can’t bring myself to do it.

there‘s a great video online of a guy dying plastic parts just like you’re talking about.

unfortunately, I’d trash my kitchen and a nice pot and lid…. My wife is very gracious with my bike hobby…. The dyed kitchen might be the straw that breaks the camel’s back!

I’m not sure what I’m going to do on the cables….
I hear ya. I paper toweled everything around the stove excessively and had a wash station ready for drips.. but it wasn't needed. The dye won't take to anything stainless but I also used this roaster successfully too.
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I poked a pinhole into the protective seal under the cap of the dye bottle and wrapped a paper towel around as it was the only part of the process that had potential for mistakes. Once diluted it's so weak that you really need not worry. Food coloring would do more damage. By the second time around I used a tiny 2.5 inch high stainless pot. A pretty nice one that had me nervous. But no splatter and no ring in the pot. The recommended temperature produces a simmer, not a splashing boil, no cover needed. I used a meat thermometer, (which might be aluminum?), and it also did not stain. I used salad tongs to place and remove the pieces without splashing. Rinsed my pieces in a clean white kitchen sink without a problem. I was far more destructive wasting all those paper towels than anything else. But I wouldn't push it with your wife. I would find a hotplate.
 
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Have I said this?

ONLY RALEIGH GOES WITH RALEIGH

I had to pull the brakes off the blue Raleigh…. I hope to be able to use the Murray levers and cables, but the brakes…. No dice

A lot of work needed on the blue bike brakes: the arm on the front was bent pretty bad
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I hear ya. I paper toweled everything around the stove excessively and had a wash station ready for drips.. but it wasn't needed. The dye won't take to anything stainless but I also used this roaster successfully too.
View attachment 240159
I poked a pinhole into the protective seal under the cap of the dye bottle and wrapped a paper towel around as it was the only part of the process that had potential for mistakes. Once diluted it's so weak that you really need not worry. Food coloring would do more damage. By the second time around I used a tiny 2.5 inch high stainless pot. A pretty nice one that had me nervous. But no splatter and no ring in the pot. The recommended temperature produces a simmer, not a splashing boil, no cover needed. I used a meat thermometer, (which might be aluminum?), and it also did not stain. I used salad tongs to place and remove the pieces without splashing. Rinsed my pieces in a clean white kitchen sink without a problem. I was far more destructive wasting all those paper towels than anything else. But I wouldn't push it with your wife. I would find a hotplate.
…. I thought about the food color angle…. I’m surprised it’s got more kick

Your set up is great: One day I’ll have some more space and a shop and can do stuff like this!
 
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Fun to catch up on the past 10 pages of your build. Everything is looking great. I can't wait to see those wheels on this! Great idea. Keep plugging away at the hassles of English bikes.
 
Fun to catch up on the past 10 pages of your build. Everything is looking great. I can't wait to see those wheels on this! Great idea. Keep plugging away at the hassles of English bikes.
Thanks @kingfish254 : I’ve been watching your build as well… just have not made too many comments on it. Super cool. I like your video end!

in one way, it’s completely different than all the other builds I’ve seen you do.. (wheel size, mainly) but in another way, it’s Kingfish all the way!

I’m going to keep plugging on this guy. Time is slipping away. I’ve got new BB ball bearings in transit. It’ll be right, but I’d rather throw old parts and ingenuity at a project as opposed to $$$$.
 

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