Possible RS fork restoration - help me please

[Pickle]

If my Rock Shox dont sell very soon, I am going to have a go at restoring the paint myself. Well, nothing to lose!

So, where do I start?

Can I do it without taking the fork to bits?

What is the best way to remove the knackered paint?

Do I brush paint or spray the legs?

And finally, I have decided on either original gold or SID blue for the fresh paint - what do you think?

Cheers

 

[Drapoon]

You can do it without removing the legs aslong as your masking skills are good. plasticote is your friend.
Sand the legs down . using fine sandpaper, plasticote primer them, sand, primer again, light sand then good clean with static cloth & spray with plasticote gloss 2/3 layers lightly sanding inbetween, then same with laquer. Lengthy process but results can be awesome


Martin

 

[scant]

I'd also paint strip the current paint off just to get a more even layer before you start. if you can find the correct shade, i'd go for gold again over blue.

 

[stevet1]

There was a short lived trend for removing the paint and polishing rock shox mags up - the magnesium legs polish up really shiny with a quick buff using wet and dry sandpaper. However they also oxidise really fast and about a week later my fork looked rather a mess of mottled patches.

 

[letmetalktomark]

You can do it without removing the legs aslong as your masking skills are good. plasticote is your friend.
Sand the legs down . using fine sandpaper, plasticote primer them, sand, primer again, light sand then good clean with static cloth & spray with plasticote gloss 2/3 layers lightly sanding inbetween, then same with laquer. Lengthy process but results can be awesome


Martin

I've just completed a renovation as a project - and I followed the above but I used a hammerite smooth paint.

Came up really well.

Will plasticote once I have applied decals.

I just removed the seals - packed the space and taped up the top legs.

Do it!

 

[JustKev]

Don't sell them, just restore them. They are very easy to strip down and will look ace in either gold or SID blue.

 

[hamster]

A marine self-etching primer is a good starting point. They are just made to way higher spec than most paints.

Blakes and International Paints are good makers.

 

[OrangeRetro]

I'd strip them down! :shock: That way they be alot easier to respray as two seprate fork lowers and brace. You will also be able to service them at the same time and get them working nicely again.. Go on be brave, take your time and hone your DIY skills. I'm sure someone on here knows how!

I use standard cellulose car paint for spraying stuf. Take your time between coats and wet and dry between coats. Build it up slowely and they will look cool!

Good luck!!

 

[Tallpaul]

I'd just buy a nice set to start with.

All the time, money and effort to resto - then are they even fine internally?

For the price of used Mag's, i'd just buy a decent set in the first place and bin those ones (being the good little capitalist consumer that i am).

 

[Bike Hoarder]

Interested in the polishing route for mine, is there a way of laquering them to keep them shiny? Without the laquer turning yellow over time?

Polished Mag forks, against a polished RTS1.....nice!!