Diamond Frame Flying Merkel DONE!

[Strings_and_steam]

Thanks for the comments guys!

Gowjobs, I bet you're right about the solvent 'hottness', I had never even considered that. It was indeed an enamel over an acrylic enamel. I'm goign to forgo clear coating all together on this one- the reason I wanted to in the first place was all for protection, but in my expierence if a frame with 3-5 coats of clear protection on it wants to chip, it's going to chip no matter how it's been coated from the rattle can. Plus, this stuff dries pretty hard to begin with, and I like the finish- I didn't want it blindingly glossy anyway.

It seems like lady's long spring saddles show up for sale more than mens, at least in what I've noticed, and from my expierence here (and just looking at different saddle construction) it's not a terrible amount of work to mount the springs from a lady's seat to the pan of a men's. A lot of the old saddles and carriages seem to be similar in construction, and if you're a little handy and darring it's be a neat project

[FOUND OBJECTS]

POR-15 is where it's at!
http://www.por15.com/
Check it out! I've used this stuff and it works great!

[FOUND OBJECTS]

POR-15 is where it's at!
http://www.por15.com/
Check it out! I've used this stuff and it works great!

It's true too about leaving no brush streaks...
You could hand paint a car and it would look as slick as glass.

[Gdcast]

Bike is turning up beautiful, cant wait to see more, keep up the awesome work!!

[Strings_and_steam]

Thanks all! I appreciate the feedback!

Skipton- I'll have to schlepp it down to a Chicago ride sometime

Found objects- That looks like a really cool product! Have you posted this info in the 'bike talk' or 'bike how to' boards? I bet a lot of guys on here would be interested in that!

Gdcast- Thanks man! I was hoping to do some more painting on my rear rim, but it's a lovely rain and snow mix here I'm betting the headbadge will look a million times better on your Phillips than it would look on this one painted orange!

I've also got to give a shout out to member Boardtrack Fan. He put together a beautiful Flying Merkel tribute waaay before I joined this site, and to be honest, it was not only the bike that got me interested in the Flying Merkel to begin with (I saw it, and it was like a little voice in my head started screaming 'you need to build one of those, Spence!'), but also was the gateway to alerting me about this site in the first place. So don't go thinking I'm the first one to think of this! I honestly didn't even know that the Flying Merkel was a produced bike back in the day, I though he had come up with the title himself

[FOUND OBJECTS]

Found objects- That looks like a really cool product! Have you posted this info in the 'bike talk' or 'bike how to' boards? I bet a lot of guys on here would be interested in that!

No...I've mentioned it before a few times...maybe I'll post something though. The hardnose paint looks pretty cool too.

[Gdcast]

Gee, not many things would look bad in the Flying Merkel Spence, she´s a real cooker you know.
My Phillips will get fully restored now thanks to you and the new badge, that as soon as I get peaceful again after tying the knot

[Strings_and_steam]

Yikes! Almost fell off of page 1 I guess I better get movin on this!

I've been working on things slowly. I nearly had the rear wheel all painted, but on the final coat of colour I forgot to wipe the rims down before painting, and BAM a few places bubbled. I sanded them out, re-primed the areas, and will be workign on getting them buttoned up soon.

I clear coated the saddle carraige and have been looking for a cheap brown leather something at local thrift stores to cover the seat. No luck so far, but I've only looked twice in the past week.

I dug out a new stem for the bicycle, I'll need to clean it up a bit but I found the old 'English' stem won't fit the new forks. Not a big deal, just some cleaning now.

I ordered some new brake pads as well, orange ones! I know eventually my rims will be scuffed by the brake pads and paint will slowly wear down where they contact, but I figured orange pads would at least not leave black scuffs (does coloured rubber/pads like that 'scuff' its own colour? ) It might seem also that being picky about my rim paint wouldn't make sense since some of it will certainly rub off, but I want the wear to be even looking; this bike will clip and age, but I'd like it to be somewhat uniform

Here's a stock pic of the pads, just because I'm into pics

[Strings_and_steam]

Gotta make my plug for vinegar as a rust-remover! I soaked my stem and hardware in a shallow bucket of white vinegar (a Food Club 2011, good vintage ) for about 12 hours, and then scrubbed gently with a toothbrush. WOW it worked well! The through-bolt was completely rusted as was the wedge, and the chrome was peppered with spots. Here it is now:



I also sprayed the final (I hope) coat on my rear wheel. There was no more crazing! I'll hopefully be getting that un-wrapped in the next few days and getting the tire installed. Gettin there slow and steady. Next week will be my spring break from college, and I'm hoping to get most of the rest of the work done on this project. Today it is 48 in Miltown, and I'm itching to bike again!

[Gdcast]

Wow Holly salad stuff!!!
That chrome looks good!!

[Strings_and_steam]

So I thought I'd take a quick break from writing a musicological midterm paper and show you...

...TA DA....

The completed wheel set


And an 'artsy fartsy' shot for your desktop background


That is all. Carry on.

[Fireproof]

Lookin’ great! Glad you have the paint thing figured out!

[Skipton]

Yep looks good!

[stocksucks]

Lookin' good!
Keep rollin'

[Strings_and_steam]

I had some time to work on the frame yesterday. I sanded it down some to even things out. I will admit I felt a little guilty about sanding off the slightly raised 'Phillips' decals, as they were in geat shape. But the show must go on.

I gave up my battle with the cottered cranks. Even the guy at my LBS with the special tool couldn't pop them free. I didn;t want to ruin my cranks and have to get a brand new set, so I just mummified them in maskign tape and plastic bags. Simple, effective, and becuase of the spaces in the sprocket, I can still spray through to the frame. Viola!







Today I layed down a few coats of orange on the frame, and it's drying. Tomorrow I'll probably start putting it all back together. I'll post pics of the orange-ness tomorrow

A big thank you to all who have been following this and leaving comments, I really enjoy reading them and am glad this build generated some interest. Without you, I'd just be talkin to myself