****The Better Half**** Finished

[milbums]

This is my first build off and my third build since i got back into bikes. The wife asked me to build her a bike hence the name. I had this 48 Columbia built Higgins I picked up in a package deal. I have no idea where I am headed with this but the wife wants it to be "pretty". Out of the blue a tank came available yesterday in the FS section that I purchased that should be here next week. Have a couple of rims from the Electra sale if I can't salvage the drop centers. Well see how it goes. I look forward to watching all the builds and participating with such a talented group op people. Good luck to all!

Finished Thread
viewtopic.php?f=78&t=75566

 

[kingfish254]

Re: The Better Half

Great to see another Columbia.
Good luck.

 

[LukeTheJoker]

Re: The Better Half

Building a bike for the wife! Nice! :wink:

Luke.

 

[milbums]

Re: The Better Half

Broke it down and stripped frame and fork.

A box of parts to clean up.

 

[yoothgeye]

Re: The Better Half

How did you strip your frame so fast? Can you do mine?

 

[panelman]

Re: The Better Half

Love that frame! Will be keeping tabs on how this comes together.

 

[milbums]

Re: The Better Half

How did you strip your frame so fast? Can you do mine?

Aircraft stripper and wire wheel.

 

[milbums]

Re: The Better Half

Stated working on the fenders, I spent most of Saturday on straightening and body work. Sunday I primed and painted the primary color. Also cleaned up the rims and have them in primer. Guard and fork were painted earlier in the week and I was able to get some accent color on them.

 

[kingfish254]

Re: The Better Half

Looks like a candy shop

 

[jats]

Re: The Better Half

awsome progress!! love the paint!

Troy

 

[ChrisMac]

Re: ****The Better Half****

Oooooo. Very shiny....

 

[milbums]

Re: ****The Better Half****

This build has been going slower than I would have liked, busy at work and spent the last couple of weekends changing the timing chains on my daughters car. I was able to get a secondary color on the fenders and some paint on the rims. I'm still not sure if I will go with the painted drop centers or a set I got from the Electra sale that I plan on polishing.

 

[MplsCoaster]

Re: ****The Better Half****

Sweet paint work!! :shock: 8) :mrgreen:

 

[The Renaissance Man]

Re: ****The Better Half****

Sweet paint work!! :shock: 8) :mrgreen:

X2 8) wow

 

[SCHWINNRAY69]

Re: ****The Better Half****

Wow, great paint skills!

 

[CCR]

Re: ****The Better Half****

Agreed man, paint looks smooth as glass, the paint on most of these bikes we dig up never looked as good as that does right there

 

[Dr. Tankenstein]

Re: ****The Better Half****

Love that color of white, do you mind telling us the name?

Is it rattlecan?

PM me if you want to keep it a secret during the build-off, I'm not entered so.........

Cheers,
Dr. T

 

[milbums]

Re: ****The Better Half****

Rust-oleum-Almond and Burgundy

I think the results come from the prep. I spent a whole day straightening the fenders and filling, sanding, filling, sanding, filling, sanding.
Then primer and paint followed by wet-sanding, rubbing compound then polishing compound. I always wait about a week for second color to prevent orange peel. Then rubbing compound, polishing compound and finally a good coat of wax.


My wife liked the colors on my other bike but i want to switch them. The frame will be Almond and the darts Burgundy. I am hoping this will make it a little more feminine. Will just have to see how it goes. Here is my bike with similar colors.

Had I known there was going to be a Klunker contest, I probably would have waited to build this.

 

[deorman]

Re: ****The Better Half****

8) The drop center rims could use a couple of burgundy pin stripes. :wink:

 

[milbums]

Re: ****The Better Half****

Some more parts painted.

I picked up a tank, one side is really good the other has some surface pitting and a couple of dings to straighten.

Starting to lace the wheels, picked up a skiptooth sproket for the 3 speed from Ichibike.