Recently got me a 97 Explosif frame from Little Bob and plan to repaint it in the same colour. Looked at the 97 catalogue on Kona retro site and the colour is "Mustard",best described as metallic yellowy gold! Anyone out there know if this colour is still available? Also will obviosly be looking for a reputable frame painter not too far from Liverpool, any suggestions. All replies gratefully recieved. GAZ.
1997 Explosif repaint?
- Thread starter geetee61
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If you must do such a thing, I would suggest contacting either Tech@konaworld.com or the UK importers Paligap to see whether the colour is a standard one with an RAL number that a painter could refer to. I would rather doubt it, but that would be my first step.
I would also photograph all the decals very carefully and very close up, so that Gil_M on this site could make copies for you.
Before you choose a painter, you need to decide whether you are going for liquid enamel (beautiful but delicate) or powder coat (not quite so beautiful, but much more rugged), as many painters specialise in one but not the other.
On the other hand, judging from photographs of that frame, it was in the best condition you could possibly expect of a 1997 frame and if I had bought it (which was a distinct possibility), I wouldn't have dreamt of having it repainted. If you want to repaint a frame, far better IMHO to buy a manky one for £100 less. But I do agree that it's none of my business.
I would also photograph all the decals very carefully and very close up, so that Gil_M on this site could make copies for you.
Before you choose a painter, you need to decide whether you are going for liquid enamel (beautiful but delicate) or powder coat (not quite so beautiful, but much more rugged), as many painters specialise in one but not the other.
On the other hand, judging from photographs of that frame, it was in the best condition you could possibly expect of a 1997 frame and if I had bought it (which was a distinct possibility), I wouldn't have dreamt of having it repainted. If you want to repaint a frame, far better IMHO to buy a manky one for £100 less. But I do agree that it's none of my business.
Trevor, it's the same frame and it is in great nick as you say, apart from those rust spots. I sure you'll agree that rust is a disease and given a chance it will spread like widfire. The frame is too good to cut corners on the rebuild, I'd hate to spend a lot of time and cash on it only to find more rust in a year or so and need to strip it down and get it sorted. Rather do it right from the word go. Hope you agree? 
Anthony, thanks for your advice on the paint. thanks for both your comments ! GAZ.
Anthony, thanks for your advice on the paint. thanks for both your comments ! GAZ.
OrangeRetro
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Ouch.. Even I wouldn't respray that particular frame, and i'll respray anything.. that needs it.. if the rust spots are in an inconspicuous area like the chain stay bridge, I would rather just have that area treated and colour matched by a good painter.. Just my opinion though.
OrangeRetro
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geetee61":h5sjfhww said:You've got me worried when you say you wouldn't paint this "particular" frame. Do you know some thing i don't? Please explain!
I'm only saying this because it is such a nice frame in what looks like great condition from all of the photo's that i've seen. I might be wrong, but it woulds be a shame to remove all of the original paint just because of a few rust spots... I suppose it all depends how bad it is? At the end of the day, it is your bike and you should do whatever you want with it.
If you do go ahead, let me know if you need help with the Decals.. I have templates for the 97 decals after producing them for my kula.
Thanks to everyone who advised me on this subject. After thinking about it and taking in your comments/suggestions i'm gonna clean the affected area up the best i can and give the whole frame a really good waxing. It is too good a frame to start messing about with for the sake of such a small area.Cheers guys! GAZ.
Tales of three steel bikes.
97 Kilauea (Columbus Cyber). One day, seven years ago, I parked it carelessly against a low wall and a sudden gust of wind blew it over and as a result of that major accident it lost a chunk of paint from its seatstay. I did nothing to it and seven years later the bare metal has not gone brown. I can only think that there must be elements within the Cyber alloy that act as rust inhibitors.
98 Explosif (Reynolds 853). When I bought it, it had a large number of paint chips, a few of which were brown in the centre, but the great majority white. So primer obviously works well with 853 and the frame was in no great danger but looked tatty. I Kurusted the brown spots and primed and touched in all the marks and the frame now looks fine to me and I believe it is stable.
96 Explosif (Columbus Max). Same tubeset as yours and Messiah’s. When I bought it, there were a large number of stone chips, all of which were brown, no sign of primer, not even on the edge of each chip. I believe the frame must have been primed, as the paint is perfect everywhere else, no bubbles anywhere, but maybe it’s just that primer sticks far better to the top coat than it does to Columbus Max. I have Kurusted each chip and will prime and touch them in presently. I am confident that that will deal with the surface rust and the frame will be stable.
Then you get the other kinds of example like Fat Chance seat tubes, where beautiful though the bikes are and the most artistic paint jobs ever, the bloody fools didn’t incorporate a drain hole into the bottom bracket shell. So if you see bubbling in the paint at the bottom of the seat tube, that’s it, it’s rust from the inside out, the seat tube is gone and you’re going to need to replace it and respray the frame.
My understanding is that surface rust from stone chips can be treated perfectly well with Kurust and will then be stable. I don’t believe it will spread like wildfire at all, but if anybody knows better I’ll be very interested to hear about it.
So basically if your frame was mine (i.e., if I had more money), I wouldn’t be worried about the marks you mention. Why don’t you post some close ups? There are people on here who know a lot more than me and could probably advise you whether there’s any cause for concern.
97 Kilauea (Columbus Cyber). One day, seven years ago, I parked it carelessly against a low wall and a sudden gust of wind blew it over and as a result of that major accident it lost a chunk of paint from its seatstay. I did nothing to it and seven years later the bare metal has not gone brown. I can only think that there must be elements within the Cyber alloy that act as rust inhibitors.
98 Explosif (Reynolds 853). When I bought it, it had a large number of paint chips, a few of which were brown in the centre, but the great majority white. So primer obviously works well with 853 and the frame was in no great danger but looked tatty. I Kurusted the brown spots and primed and touched in all the marks and the frame now looks fine to me and I believe it is stable.
96 Explosif (Columbus Max). Same tubeset as yours and Messiah’s. When I bought it, there were a large number of stone chips, all of which were brown, no sign of primer, not even on the edge of each chip. I believe the frame must have been primed, as the paint is perfect everywhere else, no bubbles anywhere, but maybe it’s just that primer sticks far better to the top coat than it does to Columbus Max. I have Kurusted each chip and will prime and touch them in presently. I am confident that that will deal with the surface rust and the frame will be stable.
Then you get the other kinds of example like Fat Chance seat tubes, where beautiful though the bikes are and the most artistic paint jobs ever, the bloody fools didn’t incorporate a drain hole into the bottom bracket shell. So if you see bubbling in the paint at the bottom of the seat tube, that’s it, it’s rust from the inside out, the seat tube is gone and you’re going to need to replace it and respray the frame.
My understanding is that surface rust from stone chips can be treated perfectly well with Kurust and will then be stable. I don’t believe it will spread like wildfire at all, but if anybody knows better I’ll be very interested to hear about it.
So basically if your frame was mine (i.e., if I had more money), I wouldn’t be worried about the marks you mention. Why don’t you post some close ups? There are people on here who know a lot more than me and could probably advise you whether there’s any cause for concern.
