rebuilding a mystery

[gobble_doc]

Hi guys and gals.
after shelving my cruiser build for the moment (need time to incubate idea's) I've started a new project.

I picked up this old lugged bike off ebay for cheap, I guess it's a tourer(not particularly upright or forward lent).

originally had 26x1, 3/8" wheel sets which ill throw out and a bunch of random original parts.

The plan is to basically replace everything.
I'm building a new wheels set up using a Sturmey archer front drum hub, 5 speed drum rear and polished 700c rims. They will be wrapped in some 700x35 schwalbe brown delta cruisers
Picked a set of black anodized handle bars cheap and a random used stem. I stripped both back to bare metal and polished them both.
Before:

After:

I still have to track down crank set, pedals and seat(some thing brown and leathery) and general accessories.

 

[gobble_doc]

The rims and hubs arrived in the mail today, Just waiting on some brass washers before I lace it up.
X-FDD front and X-RD5 at the back. If these were second hand I would polish the shells on the hubs but I don't want to void any warranty or guarentee's

Anyone know where I might be able to get plain brass nipples (no nickle coating)?


Also I'm trying to come up with some paint scemes but I can't make up my mind, I'm thinking a mid green or a blueish-grey with a cream around the head set with some kind of detailed mask line (probably just come to a point) and some thing on the forks as well. Any one have some good ideas here?

 

[gobble_doc]

came up with a rough mock up of paint just can't decide which direction to go with the forks.
I'm also looking at pin striping the borders with gold.

 

[junknutz1975]

:shock: the bars and stem look amazing! great build so far 8)

 

[Walker]

that's looking to be a handsome bike, keep up the good work

 

[gobble_doc]

Found a supplier who can supply me with raw brass spoke nipples with out any nickel, zink or chrome coating and I have 75 on their way. There was a little bit of a language barrier so I just hope they understood what I wanted. Also I'm hoping they are just brass, not a brass mix.

Also started stripping the paint and decided after closer inspection I will re-use the chain guard, has a few details that I like.
Just have to track down some 700c guards.

 

[gobble_doc]

Bit of an update,
I Have the frame primed, high filled. I sprayed a guide coat to find all the marks. Ran into a small problem with my filler, First batch set hard in about 2 mins (to much catalyst) and the second batch turned didn't set, even though I only reduced the catalyst a smidgen.
Hopefully have all that sorted by the weekend ready for some colour.

I also received my brass nipples in the mail,

I was going to polish them but they loose a bit of their color when polished (they blend into the polished alloy rim you can kinda see that in the pcs) so I left them raw, they are still neat and shiny just not polished.

I laced the hubs into the rims using some brass washers under the head of the spoke and the brass nipples, dropped them off to be tensioned and trued.

Also, I picked up a SR fluted seat post that I polished up, thinking about putting some gold paint in the grooves/flutes? what do you guys think?

I'm still waiting on these cranks and seat(needs reshaping)

 

[gobble_doc]

Got my wheels back for the bike shop.
I had some issues with the paint bubbling, so I sent it off to be blasted back to bare metal and ill start again.

 

[user 135]

:shock: the bars and stem look amazing! great build so far 8)

I agree. Would you mind sharing your secrets, it may make a good How To Stick.

 

[gobble_doc]

thanks but It's no secret.
I will do a small "How to" when I polish my next piece.

 

[ozzmonaut]

I would put gold color in the seat flutes. Also I like the brass unpolished, it will match the gold better since gold paint isn't as bright unless you get the kind made to look like actual gold metal. Striping the lugs borders with gold would look nice. Did you come to a final conclusion on frame color? I like the bluish gray idea myself, since the gold striping would really pop on it. I personally wouldn't paint the headtube white. If you do maybe tape the lug borders and white the lugs as well to show the lug details. But that's me and my builds aren't anything special. But this looks like a great build and makes me want to get a prewar lugged frame. Good job on the polishing as well.

 

[gobble_doc]

Long time no update.
Basically got the frame all sprayed and cleared, forks and seat stays are next. I need to get a new seat tube as it's .5 - 1mm too big, I also managed to reshaped the seat aswell.

Scored a gold/brassy looking chain.

The only real parts left are the cable and cable clamp hardware.

 

[Hammond Eggz]

Wow, this is going to be very classy. Very nice!
Really impressed with the polishing job on the stem and bar - :shock:
BTW - what happened to the seat stays?

 

[CCR]

Liking the colors !!!

...BTW - what happened to the seat stays?

They are bolt ons on a lot of the older stuff made over seas

 

[MAXXTRAX77]

That polish work is impressive! Gonna be a sharp looking bike!

 

[gobble_doc]

update.
I managed to get everything cleared and ready to go back together.

unfortunately, I lost the new head set i got a couple of weeks ago, have to order a new one BUT I managed to polish up my cranks today. I just have to put some gold paint in the flutes

Only things left are seat post and cable management stuff.

 

[gobble_doc]

Got another head set yesterday so I chucked the tyres on the wheels and started putting the bike together.
Seat post and ring gear on their way.

 

[LukeTheJoker]

Looking good!

Luke.

 

[Dr. Tankenstein]

I love this bike.
Nuff' said.

Cheers,
Dr. T

 

[bigfatcat]

That color combo and the stance is Bee oo tee ful! Great work