Restoration or over restoration?

[Andy M]

My winter project is now heading to the bit I am honestly no good at. I don't get cosmetics and rarely do them. However, in this case even a fresh can of black hammerite seems inappropriate. I have therefore purchased pale blue paint in a rough estimation of the original colours which Karen says matches.

The remaining question is the shiney bits. Other work I have seen seems to vary from giving it a good clean to mirror finishes you could use to shave.

Thoughts anyone?

Cheers

Andy

[002]

My winter project is now heading to the bit I am honestly no good at. I don't get cosmetics and rarely do them. However, in this case even a fresh can of black hammerite seems inappropriate. I have therefore purchased pale blue paint in a rough estimation of the original colours which Karen says matches.

The remaining question is the shiney bits. Other work I have seen seems to vary from giving it a good clean to mirror finishes you could use to shave.

Thoughts anyone?

Cheers

Andy

I don't shave !    So that would be a waste of time polishing. 

Jethro

[Ian]

Andy,
       I know Im stating the obvious really but it all depends on how YOU yourself feels how much time/effort/expense you want to put into your project. I have now rebuilt/restored about 16 bikes and everytime I have tried to improve on the last one by either putting more effort in and/or deciding how much time I can spare. It also depends on what you want to do with your pride and joy after completing it (Are they ever finished??). Do you just want to ride it or polish and show it? I think you need to look at the basics and decide from there. Hope this helps and that it hasnt caused more confusion.

Ian

[Steffan]

Restoration is a funny thing - personally I tend to opt for tidy work-a-day condition. But I was once offered a small Moto Guzzi for very little money. The one thing I really couldn't get past was that it would defy restoration. The condition was so perfectly original that even to fix the worn out seat would have  ruined it. I passed, then changed my mind and missed out alas.

If it is for yourself - do as much as you like or as much as the bike needs 2p

BTW what is it that you are restoring - I take it from your reference to Hammerite it is not an MZ?

Steff

[Andy M]

BTW what is it that you are restoring - I take it from your reference to Hammerite it is not an MZ?

Steff

It's from slightly further East:

https://picasaweb.google.com/104442976739427547289/Restoration#5851909525131203762

 

Andy

[Steffan]

Nice.
Looks fine as it is..

[002]

Russian copy of an Optimus 7R. 

Tidy !

Jethro

[guest7]

Is that the one I gave you years ago? Good little stove, worked better than some of my genuine 7Rs.

As it happens I gave SimonM my best Optimus and thought I'd be happy keeping just the 99 version (aluminium case that doubles as a pan) but it's buggered     so I've given away my better stoves 

No to worry, I still have about 20 odd 'uns left here.

My stove collecting period was a bit odd, but I totted up the costs the other day and it came to just over £500 for the lot. As obsessions go it was a cheap one 

Not like Motorcycles eh? I don't dare count how much I've spent on biking

GC

[SteveC#222]

The (over) restoration bug on bikes can be a nasty thing.  A mate of mine decided to restore an old Russian Voshkod 175 2 stroke - memorably described by MCN as " the worst bike we've ever tested". The intention was a nice tidy spruce up but the bug bit. He ended up having the wheels rebuilt, everything rechromed - there's a lot of chrome on a Voshkod - full frame powder coat and tinware professionally resprayed, the complete works.   It looked fantastic  when it was done, far far better than anything that came out of the factory. Downside was it cost him the thick end of a grand and at the end of it all it was still a bike that was worth at most a couple of hundred quid as nobody ever wanted to buy one in the first place!  ( OK, I had/have one - on long term loan to my brother but I only paid £20 for mine!)



Beware!  It eats your money!

[Andy M]

Is that the one I gave you years ago? Good little stove, worked better than some of my genuine 7Rs.

It is indeed. Reason for the "restoration" was that the graphite packing went. Too good a stove to replace so it got tidied up. I can't understand why they no longer make these when they do the 111 style and smaller and lighter does so well. It fits inside a mess tin and boils a cup of water in about 6 minutes, maybe less now all the fire is going upwards. You can then pack it away without taking it to bits. The Hiker+ only takes 2 minutes off the boil time.

For my next project, having done a motorbike and a petrol stove I guess I have to choose between a weather presenter or Landrover? Sian Lloyd or a series III? 

Andy

[Richard]

Series III would be better looking.

Less corrpsion too 

[002]

Series III would be better looking.

Less corrpsion too 

And sound better 

[Mark]

Series III would be better looking.

Less corrpsion too 

And sound better 

No, I like a screamer.

[Steffan]

I didn't know you were a fan of two strokes?

[Richard]

Rumour has it that it only takes Mark two strokes anyway ;-)