Share some pictures: Raw steel bikes

[Eric Marth]

I'm working on a project and considering going the raw steel finish route, with a clear. 

I hope people can share some pictures of raw steel bikes for inspiration. 

Here are a few images I've saved.

• Lyle's Rivendell Rambouillet 
  • Oil buffed in with scotchbrite pads 
• Sal's Trek 950
  • Raw with clear shellac 
• This Rivendell Glorious from facebook
  • I believe these got a clear powdercoat

[Eric Norris]

Here’s a detail shot of my ’97 Road Standard, which came to me paintless (except for the fork, which retains the original silver paint). I scrubbed it with Scotchbrite and applied a coat of clear to the frame, leaving just enough corrosion and light surface rust to look cool. I’ve had the bike for several years and have never seriously considered applying a “real” paint job. I love being able to see the fine brazing work at the lugs.

--Eric Norris
campyo...@me.com
Insta: @CampyOnlyGuy
YouTube: YouTube.com/CampyOnlyGuy 

On Mar 9, 2022, at 10:20 AM, Eric Marth <eric...@gmail.com> wrote:

I'm working on a project and considering going the raw steel finish route, with a clear. 

I hope people can share some pictures of raw steel bikes for inspiration. 

Here are a few images I've saved.

• Lyle's Rivendell Rambouillet 
  • Oil buffed in with scotchbrite pads 
• Sal's Trek 950
  • Raw with clear shellac 
• This Rivendell Glorious from facebook
  • I believe these got a clear powdercoat

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<37166652_218919018822897_3133483443376095232_n.jpg><272456597_6980658778672856_3904882088288009621_n.jpg><download.jpg>

[Collin A]

While not a Riv, I had a 2017 Kona Roadhouse with some brass simworks fenders that looked sweet. Clear coat over raw showcasing the fillet over tig welds.

[Patch T]

I'll have to dig out photos later, but I've done this a couple times - with and without clearcoat. I prefer the results without clearcoat. But if you don't wipe down your bike frequently, the rust that collects rubs off on your clothes easily. Something to be aware of.

Patch, whose commuter was a stripped, raw early 80s Trek 950 with RTPs (rust=theft prevention!) until carrying it up the flight of stairs home daily got all his clothes dirty, in NYC

[Eric Marth]

Thanks to you all for sharing. 

Eric: Do you have any color pics that show the corrosion, surface rust and patina? 

Patch: Your experience sounds helpful! I'd love to see some pictures when you have a chance. Did you ever find a way to maintain some corrosion and patina? Like letting it weather a bit before adding the clear coat? Understood regarding the powdery surface rust being an issue. I've encountered this plenty when looking through old rusted tools. 

Here's hoping Jason Fuller has some info to share about his Bombadil, formerly clear powder-coated, now beautifully painted. 

[S. Greco]

matte clear powder coat on this simpleone

[S. Greco]

satin clear powder coat on this serrota club special.

the logos were sandblasted into the steel with a vinyl-cut mask prior to the clear coat.

[Eric Marth]

Thanks, Steven, that laser cutting trick is another level. 

[WilletM]

Below is my Bilenky travel bike from the mid-90's.  It has Nervex lugs and some very pretty flowing brass.  It only has about 20 miles on it so far, so I can't speak to the durability of the finish (though Steve did warn me that it was rather suspect).  I don't recall precisely if it was paint or powder, but I do seem to remember him saying something about the primer-type substance making the tubes a little darker, so I'm guessing it was paint.

Willet M.

[David Sprunger]

Here are two pictures of my first-generation Bombadil in raw steel with a Suntour XC Pro drivetrain.  

David Sprunger

North Newton, KS

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[Eric Marth]

Thanks, Willet! 

David: Phew, that's the stuff! Thanks for the closeup of the headtube (insert 🆒 emojis) 

[WilletM]

In the realm of adult cinema, I believe they would call that the money shot (though I will, of course, defer to those who have actually seen such a thing).

Willet M.

[RichS]

David, 

Your Bombadil looks just right in its unpainted state. The downtube lug is a work of art - and how it flows along the tube. The head badge isn't too shabby either. One of my earliest Rivendell encounters was seeing a closeup of unpainted said lugwork. It made consider buying a Bombadil (unpainted of course) just for the lugs. 

No regrets but a painted Atlantis got the nod instead.

Best,

Rich in ATL

[Patch T]

Eric - photos of an 80-smthg Trek 950. 850? below. Can't find photos of the Elance. The photo of just frame is fresh, post-stripping/treatment (check out that tool chest). The photo of the complete is after about maybe a year? (check out that fenderline). Less pretty than some of the other frames shared here maybe.

After stripping and buffing, I mostly used Bluing/Black Oxide. I had tried linseed oil, but it left a sticky residue. When living in Los Angeles, I didn't have to do much upkeep with the Bluing formula. Once I moved to NYC, I wiped and reapplied frequently, and always after water exposure, which was frequent. And then over time, I got lazier and lazier and let the thing go to rust more. I eventually gave the frame to a friend who's cruising around on it in Taos. I liked it rusty - but as I said, the rubbing-off of powdery surface rust was a frequent bummer.

I also don't have a photo of a 2nd gen Karate Monkey I had stripped and clear-coated. The painter told me it's just going to look like gunmetal grey - and it did for a couple years until it finally started to get some cool spidering rust streaks. It's being stored in my brother's garage and has been for 6 years. Can't wait to see what it looks like someday, if it's still there.

Have fun

Patch in NYC

[Eric Marth]

Yes, Patch! Thanks! Very very kind of you to dig these up. Great examples. 

Thanks for the notes on finishing, rusting, etc. Much appreciated! 

[Brother Bunny]

Hi Eric,

Here is a photo of my 1980 Trek mystery model in a pewter color. I know it's not quite raw steel, but it's fun to imagine what's underneath and consider what makes steel more exciting than steel-colored paint.  

Cheers,

Bunny

[eliu01]

Here's my wife's custom Frances 650b road bike.

[Robert Hakim]

Eric, 

While it's not the style of bike that I would normally post on this forum, you may enjoy the pictures in this album of my Waltworks mountain bike. I've left it raw through two seasons of riding and I think it is interesting to look back on how the finish has changed. I'm thinking about having it media blasted and powder coated this year. 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/p4FpnrQyZe7Xv7o46

Happy riding! 

-Robert

[Eric Marth]

Thanks, Robert! Is this totally raw or is it raw with a clear coat and the patina is under the clear? I ask because I'd figure a raw steel frame would weather more quickly that the time frame you mention. I am prepared to be wrong about this assumption!

[Robert Hakim]

My pleasure Eric! 

It is completely raw, but living in the American West, the patina has matured slowly. It has been on the back of the car next to the ocean, in the rain multiple times, I spent a few months with family in humid Virginia, and I can't even tell you how many creek crossings. The majority of the rust is likely from being stored in a garage during my time in Va. 

As cool as the finish is, I think it is making me subconsciously feel like the bike is 'old' or 'worn out'. Looking back through the pictures I think, for my tastes anyways, I should have curtailed the development of the rust a little while ago, hence the desire to get it painted. Though sometimes it is fun to show up at the trailhead with a rat bike, surrounded by all the modern carbon enduro bikes and their loud graphics. 

Cheers, 

Robert 

[David Person]

Beautiful Frances 650b custom.

[Eric Marth]

eliu01: Nice Frances! Thanks for sharing

Robert: Thanks for the added info, got it concerning the frame being out west. I'm in Virginia! The humidity will have fun with raw steel.