Cycle Repairing and Adjusting
With a Chapter on building a Bicycle from a Set of Parts

CHAPTER V Re-enamelling a Cycle at Home Re-enamelling a cycle at home without the aid of a stove to harden the enamel is not particularly difficult. Of course, it must not be expected that the ultimate result will be the same as, or the work wear so well as though the cycle were properly stove-enamelled ; but a very good result may be attained if care is used all through, and the job is not hurried or scamped in any way. Good work requires time and attention, and in this particular branch the ultimate result depends very largely not only on the care and attention in carrying it out, but in a very great measure on the preparation of the surface of the material to be treated. Enamels.—The materials used on a job of this kind are entirely different from those used in the stoving process, as in the latter a special stoving enamel or japan is used, which will not set or dry without the heat of a japanning stove ; but by the process to be described, either one of the proprietary cycle enamels put up in 6d. and Is. bottles, and to be obtained at most cycle depots, must be used, or best carriage black japan, or the ordinary flat colours used by carriage painters, and afterwards varnished. The first-named method, common cycle enamel, will probably prove the simplest, but will not give the best results. Avoid a spirit black, that is, one made up with