Stripping and polishing a 953 frame

[bobg]

Just teetering on the brink of buying a s/h 953 frame. The paintwork is only " ok " but given that it's stainless steel I was wondering that if I had it stripped, what might be the best way of getting a nice shiny polished finish.... or is it a silly idea?? Thanks

 

[PpPete]

The very lightest of abrasives....it's exceptionally thin wall, maybe 000 grade wire wool ?
I'm not sure it's a great idea though. The colour around the lugs and brazing may not be same as that of the tube, in which case it will look pants. I'd talk to someone like Dave Yates before doing this too, because IIRC although it is "stainless" it is not the most corrosion resistant stainless (the ones that really don't rust at all are relatively soft material).
If you want shiny metal look I'd look at titanium.

 

[bobg]

Thanks for the reply Pete. So shotblasting is out of ther question

 

[PpPete]

reminds me of some experiences with a waterjet cutter...& thinking we could lightly "score" the surface of some aluminium to provide some assembly reference marks. To make sure the marks were not too deep we turned off the flow abrasive, we turned the water pressure right down, and still punched a whole straight through some 5 mm plate!

 

[Zoiders]

Speak to Rourkes.

One of the main builders of stainless at the moment.

 

[fossyant]

I'd do it properly mate...........get a frame painter to do it............ the frame is too good to do a botch job........ I'd not do that to my Columbus SLX or Reynolds 653....... proper job. ONLY.... if needed........

953 doesn't need to be finished anyway - Rourke do rear ends un-finished like the older steel bikes with chromed rear ends......

 

[bobg]

Thanks all,

Still agonising over whether I need it rather than want it. My illness means that riding is pretty much out of the question any more so my main pleasure is in the building, restoring and subsequent admiring... Strange thing is that its a Raleigh frame but with Reynolds 953 tubing stickers, all looks really original too + very nicely put together and extremely light? The bloke ( a good friend )who owns it only paid £40 for it due to theignorance of the seller and he doesnt want too much profit...Rourkes were very helpful and said sandblasting would be fine even though some of the frame was 0.3mm!! Pretty sure it was lugless in which case I'd really like to go down the polishing route myself if poss. They gave me the e mail address of their framebuilder for further advice. I'll do nothing hasty although I'm currently without a "project"...
BTW Fossy, theres a big bike jumble in South Manchester on Saturday, I have the address somewhere if you want it?

 

[fossyant]

Ohh jumble address please.

Just a quick point - A Raleigh with 953 - are you sure it's not 753 or 853. 953 can only be put together by specialists (and Raleigh haven't had a special products division for some years)...Just asking !!!

 

[bobg]

Ohh jumble address please.

Just a quick point - A Raleigh with 953 - are you sure it's not 753 or 853. 953 can only be put together by specialists (and Raleigh haven't had a special products division for some years)...Just asking !!!

Yeah, That's just what I thought and why I'm still hesitant. I'm going to borrow it for a few days and maybe take it over to Paul Hewitts for a bit of advice. Its a "modern " shape frame ie oval tubing etc and the 953 stickers are well and truly imbedded under what looks like the original lacquer finish and I'm pretty sure the Raleigh logo is original too.

I'll have a stall with the bloke who has the frame at the bike jumble on Saturday and bring bring it, so if you wear a red carnation or something I'll say hello. There will be a BSA tandem frame on our stall, probably the only one there. I'll upload the address later, I'll need to ring him for the details

 

[bobg]

Hi Fossy,

Rural Studies Centre, Parrs Wood, next to the Travel Lodge M20 PG
A34 Kingsway East Didsbury .... does that make sense??
BTW any idea what the roads are like round there re snow?

Bob

 

[bobg]

Just got an e mail from Jason Rourke ( their framebuilder ) he said pretty much the same as you ie am I sure its 953?? Just for anyone elses info, fine grit shotblasting is ok if it's to be painted over but chemical strip the bit for polishing

 

[Canardly]

Mmm 953 doubt it. Is difficult to work (apparently), relatively new, bloody expensive and has been said thin wall.

 

[craigwend]

Never heard of Raleigh making 953 either - prototype?

RaleighUSA does have a range of steel bikes, but their top is 853 http://www.raleighusa.com/bikes/steel-road/international-11/

some nice looking bikes though, lots of brooks saddles

 

[bobg]

I'll borrow it and upload a pic or two later

 

[fossyant]

Bobg - the roads are fine round there now - I work round the corner.

Oh..bike jumble...............argh, could spend way too much money..........