Rattle can finish

.

Really great work!

Thanks m66!

Mighty fine work, Ernie -

When that bike is finished it will be a show stopper. If only a factory finish could be done that well.

I'm presently restoring my old Varsity and Traveler Schwinn's, both have many, many miles, but well maintained and good riders. Now the paint is starting to be a bit unloved looking. Green for the Varsity, red for the Traveler. A pro shop is replacing all of the mechanicals, then I'll finish it with my Binks detail spraygun and factory matching Imron polyurethane paint. 

I'm right next to Eugene, Or, sort of a biking capitol. Absolutely primo bike trails, along the Willamette River. My usual ride, (before I got so darned old,) was 16 miles for the short one, 33 for the longer.

My main road bike is a Klein, at nearly 79 I can't ride it any longer, but it's beautiful and I can't watch it go. A few years ago I got a trike semi-recliner, much safer for me now, little pickup bed in back, perfect for the summer market runs, the bike path takes me right there.

I hope you'll continue to send posts of this one as you progress, very happy to see your excellent work.

Patrick

Very nice. I wish that I could get my model cars to look like that.

Thanks Patrick and JK!

Patrick, I just finished breathing new life to a 1973 Schwinn Continental. I mixed my own Kool Lemon enamel color and used my airbrush to touch up some spots. I took the bike completely apart, cleaned and regreased the bottom crank, polished all the chrome, recabled the brakes and shifter, added NOS bar tape, brake pads and new Kenda white walls. I love riding this 24" Conti and usually ride 11 to 17 miles several times  a week depending on weather and time constraints. I also have a 1973 three speed Kool Lemon Speedster, 1974 red Le Tour and a 1980 Coppertone Suburban with Positron shifter. Biking has helped lower my cholesterol and weight. I have one of my old police uniforms from the 1970's and it still fits me perfect so something is going right with this biking thing LOL. Besides it's fun. Click on the pictures for closeups. Notice all the scratches that look like rust but it's actually red oxide primer. 

Here is a before picture of the Continental

After

The chrome on these old Schwinns come back 95% of the time unlike the garbage being currently produced.

I believe your Varsity is a couple of pounds lighter than my Continental but both are great riding bikes. Love the old Schwinns.