Ali's bike back from the powder coating shop

got Ali's bike back from the powder coater. they do an acceptable job, some rough areas and the masking for the couplers was not as well done as i would want, but this a polo bike and the goal was a durable paint job. i used to get all of my powder coating done with my friend Dave  at Organic Engines who passed away recently. Dave was very meticulous with his work and did a great job, he also pretty much powder coated bicycles exclusively. powder coating can be a very aggravating affair, every color works differently and can come out of the oven with various outcomes. humidity and numerous other factors can effect the outcome as well. unlike wet paint, you dont know what you will end up with with a powder coat until it comes out of the oven.

more photos of Ali's polo frame before powder coat

here are some more pictures before taking the frame to the powder coater. after these photos i went over the frame with 80 grit sandpaper and cleaned up the brazed areas again.

Custom Polo Frame nearing completion

this little gem had S & S couplers, made with oversized tubing with s-bend seat stays and mountain chain stays. its mostly tig welded, the dropouts and the seat stays are brazed. it will have cantilever posts  and the dropouts have disc mounts. the head tube is machined down from thick 4130 tubing.  this bike will be running 26" wheels and the fork is from a surly 1x1