Carbon frame repainting - safe or risky?

DavidBelcher
DavidBelcher Posts: 2,684
edited June 2008 in Workshop
Just wondering if anyone has ever had a respray done on a carbon fibre frame (I know Mercian and one or two other workshops state 'frame restored at owner's risk' for carbon, presumably due to potential adverse effects from the stove enamelling process) and if they had any subsequent bother with the structural integrity of the bike. I'm thinking of having mine renovated in a couple of seasons' time and wanted to know if there were any pitfalls I should be aware of. Thanks in advance.

David
"It is not enough merely to win; others must lose." - Gore Vidal

Comments

  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    Err - don't ask for stove enamelling, but there are prenty of low-heat paint finishes available - I had my Colnago refinished by Atlantic Boulevard and I know he does lots of other carbon frames. Atlantic won't be the cheapest, but are better than any 'factory' finish.
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • DavidBelcher
    DavidBelcher Posts: 2,684
    Monty Dog wrote:
    Err - don't ask for stove enamelling, but there are prenty of low-heat paint finishes available - I had my Colnago refinished by Atlantic Boulevard and I know he does lots of other carbon frames. Atlantic won't be the cheapest, but are better than any 'factory' finish.

    Cheers Monty - I have used AB in the past so it looks like I'll be contacting them as and when. Sadly, as far as I know a painted carbon frame can't be taken back to the bare material, so bang goes any hope of my yellow/blue Look frame ending up with a retro lacquered carbon/polished lugs finish (as per the one ridden by "Jeff" Bernard in the '87 TdF) :(

    David
    "It is not enough merely to win; others must lose." - Gore Vidal
  • pawlfreehub
    pawlfreehub Posts: 69
    The main frame refinishers won't take a carbon frame down to the carbon to refinish for fear of damage and subsequent failure, so its difficult to re-laquer a frame. They would all quote me for refinishing in a solid colour. I wanted a Trek re laquering as some of the finish had lifted and bubbled, since no one would do it I ended up doing it myself using two pack epoxy paint (full air fed mask etc needed to spray this). It hasn't failed...yet.
  • bigjoe85
    bigjoe85 Posts: 9
    Do people know where this can be done in the uk and approx how much the cost would be??

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