Project Salsa Las Cruces re-paint...

[merckx56]

So I've been kicking around the idea of selling the LC, and buying something else, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it.
A) I own it.
B) I have a sentimental attachment to it.
C) Can't get anything better w/o going carbon
D) Did I mention I OWN it?

So the project began on Tuesday afternoon with a little taping and chemical stripper...



PRO-TIP : If using the spray-on stripper, wear gloves, wear a mask, wear long sleeves, wear safety goggles, and wear a hat. Hell, just wear a pair of turtleneck footie PJs. Why you ask? Well, the vapor for the spray is has a "swarm-of-Africanized-bees" effect. The spray from the can WILL burn your flesh. The vapor, however little may get on your exposed skin, feels like the swarm of aforementioned bees has taken up residence ON you. It's not a "Oh sh*t, I may be on fire" kind of sting, but one that is strong enough to cause concern, and force you into the shower.

In Layman's terms, the sh*t don't play....



After scraping what paint I could, this is where we stand. Some of the Taiwan-produced paint is impervious to the stripper. I even used marine gel stripper on a few spots. The paint laughed. Either that, or the fumes were causing me to hallucinate...
The remaining paint will be forcibly evicted by a fine wire wheel and a power drill.
Yes, I tried a few spots...it works great. And NO, it doesn't take any material off the tubes, nor the welds.

The taped portion is part of the original paint. It was in good shape, and seeing as Salsa frame decals are about as easy to procure as naked pictures of Kate Middleton, it will serve as both a cool creamsicle orange panel, and an homage to the frame's former life.

Updates will follow...stay tuned...if you want...

[A1an]

Look forward to seeing where you go with this.

Did you try the gel aluminum aircraft stripper? I used that on some very stubborn and thick factory powdercoat on a set of wheels. I had to let it sit for a while but it eventually worked.

[merckx56]

Yep, I used the aircraft grade stuff. It got some of it, but other parts...not so much.

[pschmerg]

I've been following on Facebook. Can't wait to see finished product.

I'm kind of hoping for WWII fighter inspired jaws on head tube.

[DJKhakiPants]

seeing as Salsa frame decals are about as easy to procure as naked pictures of Kate Middleton

If you find a shop that uses QBP (Quality Bicycle Products) for distribution they should be able to get them for you. They are the exclusive salsa distributor, that's why you can't find 'em online.

[merckx56]

If you find a shop that uses QBP (Quality Bicycle Products) for distribution they should be able to get them for you. They are the exclusive salsa distributor, that's why you can't find 'em online.

I talked to Salsa on the phone. They don't have Salsa decal kits for the Las Cruces. The decals are wet transfer, and applied at the factory in the Far East.

They can send me the art files, and I can get decals produced, which will be another lump of cash escaping my pocket...

[merckx56]

99% of the paint that was to be removed has been removed. There are a few spots/nooks and crannies that I'm going to get the Dremel tool on tomorrow. They're just spots that the wire wheel and sander couldn't reach.
Probably get at least one coat of primer laid down too. It's coming along...

[merckx56]

In primer...3 coats of self-etching aluminum primer to be exact. Two little spots in the primer that need to be sanded and re-sprayed. 99% of people would never see them, but they'll bug my OCD to no end. Still working on final paint design. Paint will be gloss white white metallic black accents, but I can't decide what to do with the black...

[merckx56]

Two coats of high gloss white have been laid down. Starting to get a better idea about the final paint scheme...

There will be metallic black and creamsicle orange!

[A1an]

Very cool. Curious to see how well the finish held up under the masking tape after the stripping.

[merckx56]

Very cool. Curious to see how well the finish held up under the masking tape after the stripping.

I took some of the tape up before priming it, and the finish was fine. The tape seemed to be unaffected by the stripper. Weird...

[A1an]

Did you use regular blue painters tape? That stripper ate through a pair of latex gloves when I was stripping those wheels years ago, so I figured tape would be no match.

You may want to think about remasking in case the tape has any of the stripper soaked in it or in the edge that may mess up your top coat.

[merckx56]

Yep, regular blue tape with the 'edgeguard'...whatever that is. I pulled some off last night and it came off fine and the lines were perfect.

It really humid and there's a chance of rain today, so I may just let it sit for a day before moving on to the next step.

[merckx56]

Taping is almost complete. I few more pieces of line taping to do, then the big sections. Secondary color will go on after that. Hopefully both will occur this weekend. I wish I could just go down to the ManHole(tm) and finish it, but too many other projects, and actual work, are taking precedence right now.

It's coming along...

[VR6JetPilot]

very nice!

[merckx56]

Pretty much done. I have a few Salsa decals to put on, and I'm waiting for the all carbon fork.
The black was a fortuitous screw-up on my part. I like the idea of metallic black, but neglected to see that the can said "textured". It's cool though, as the paint is really thick, and more textured than one would think. It's almost like a coating of Rhino Lining on the bottom of the bike, and around the BB. It's also a flat to semi-gloss finish, so it looks good with the gloss white.

Now to order an orange Salsa seat collar, and some new cages...and maybe a new Thomson X4...

Oh, and that's big white spot in the "a" on Salsa? It's black 3M reflective tape. The flash blew it up!

[GinsterGTI]

Wow! That really looks great!

[merckx56]

Wow! That really looks great!

Thanks!

[A1an]

Turned out beautiful. Nice job!

[fiatjeepdriver]

That turned out great.

[merckx56]

Thanks guys! I appreciate it. A soon as it gets built, the Jericho is going to get the re-paint treatment as well.
I may get creative with it, as the Columbus FOCO tubing lends itself to some fun.

I'll start building the Salsa this week. Just wanted to give the paint a little time to really cure and get hard.

[VWAddict]

Are you using a spraybooth setup, or is this a 'rattle-can' job? -What kind of paint?

It certainly looks splendid!

[merckx56]

A bit of both...

I did the painting in my building, but I created a bit of a downdraft booth effect by hanging plastic, and taping off a large area to work. I had a large fan taped into one bottom side of the plastic to suck out the paint vapor. It ran while I was painting, and actually worked well.

The priming and painting was, in fact, "rattle can", but I used industrial grade paint, and wet sanded between coats for adhesion. I toyed with the idea of clear coating it, but the finish ended up being much better than expected.
The pictures don't show it well, but the white is actually REALLY glossy and smooth.

It was a cool project that didn't cost a lot, and allowed me to play around with a bike in a completely different manner. I learned some things NOT to do next time.

[moose82]

Looks great Mark! Nice work

[merckx56]

It's done...

7800 Dura Ace w/XTR mid cage r/d
Avid Shorty 6 brakes
Thomson/Deda cockpit
White Industries wheelset

18.12 pounds as shown

Shakedown ride tomorrow. Probably the last time it'll be clean...

I'll post a daylight pic tomorrow before I ride. I finished it about 15 minutes ago...

[Son]

Great stuff! I did something similar myself four years ago.






It became my road bike, but since then I've gotten a real road bike and the Kona is sorta forgotten now.

[merckx56]

Looks good! You should get back on it. Kona makes very cool bikes!

Here's the LC in the daylight, after a rainy/dirty 2 hr shakedown.



Everything worked as it should. Had to lower the saddle about 2.5mm, and the damn stem is off about 3 degrees left.

[GinsterGTI]

Looks great. Nice build too! Now just ride the **** out of it then repeat!

[GTaye]

Wow, that came out really nicely. Kind of a great old-school vibe... which Salas cycles all have, even when they were new, IMO

(begins to search CL for an older Salsa cross bike )