Why We’re Not For Everyone

We know our way of working isn’t for everyone — and that’s fine. Here’s what you should know before booking with us:

• We take our time. Stove enamel and careful prep aren’t quick. Most projects take weeks, sometimes months. If you need it back next week, we’re not your workshop.
• We’re not the cheapest. There are faster, cheaper spray shops. What we offer is restoration done properly, so it lasts for decades, not just a season.
• We don’t just paint. Every frame is inspected, aligned and checked before it leaves. If something needs attention, we’ll tell you — and we’ll never hide issues under fresh paint.
• We prioritise the bench, not the inbox. Emails might not be answered the same day, because most of our time is spent doing the actual work. But you will get a reply, and you’ll always know where your frame stands.

If what you value is craftsmanship, heritage and work that outlives shortcuts, then you’ll feel right at home here.

“WE WORK ON ALL CLASSIC STEEL FRAMES.”

It doesn’t matter if it’s an Ellis Briggs, a Mercian, a Rourke, a Holdsworth, or something your dad bought from his local club builder back in the day. If it’s steel, we can bring it back.

We’ve seen it all — dents, stuck posts, crashed frames, corroded tubes. Some just need paint, others need a second life. The point is: if there’s history in the frame, it deserves to ride again. And that’s what we do.

“Every frame has a story. Our job is to make sure it carries on.”

And once the repairs are done, the frame heads off for paint — but that’s just the start of the precision work…

“After Paint, the Real Precision Work Begins.”

A fresh coat of paint isn’t the end of the job — it’s where the detail work really starts again. Every frame that comes back from paint needs careful hand finishing to make it ready for the road.

We chase and clean the threads, ream the seat tube, face the head tube, and check every detail so your parts fit perfectly. It’s slow, patient work — the kind that never makes the brochure photos — but it’s what makes the difference between a frame that looks nice and a frame that actually builds up properly.

“The Details That Make It Ride Right”

A fresh coat of paint is only the start — but it’s the work you don’t see that makes all the difference.

Every frame that comes back from paint is carefully checked, cleaned, and prepared:

• Threads chased
• Faces reamed and filed
• Every detail brought back to tolerance

It’s slow, meticulous work, but it ensures your frame builds up properly and rides as it should. A restoration that only looks good isn’t enough — it has to work beautifully too.

“We finish what the paint can’t.”

“No Shortcuts”

When I was learning, my mentor Andrew drilled one thing into me: never take shortcuts.

If anyone rushed a job, skipped a step, or tried to cover up a mistake, he’d hit them with one line:

“Oh, so you’re doing it the cowboy way?”

To him, that was the worst thing a framebuilder could do. He had another phrase for it too, “bodge it and scarper” — and in his eyes, that was unforgivable.

That lesson never left me. I still hear his voice in my head every day at the bench. It means every repair, every respray, every restoration gets the time it truly needs.

I won’t compromise the craft for the sake of speed or convenience. That’s why I might not answer the phone every time it rings, or reply instantly to emails because when your frame is on my bench, it has my full attention.

“No shortcuts. No bodges. Just the work done properly — or not at all.”

“Chrome Done the Right Way”

Most plating shops don’t really want to deal with bike parts. They’re fiddly, awkward to jig, and demand a level of skill and patience that just isn’t worth it to them. They’d rather run car bumpers or industrial jobs all day — quicker, easier, and more profitable.

That’s why finding a good chromer is hard. And keeping one on board is even harder. Plenty of framebuilders have lost their plating options overnight when a shop simply said: “Sorry, we don’t do bike frames anymore.”

We’ve been lucky — and persistent. For decades we’ve worked with the same chromer, who knows exactly how to handle delicate lugs, dropouts, and stays without over-polishing or ruining detail.

It means if you want chrome, you’ll need to be patient. It isn’t quick, and it isn’t simple. But you can trust it’s in the hands of craftspeople who know what they’re doing. The end result is worth the wait.

“Good chrome is rare. Ours is the kind that lasts.”

“What Does It Cost?”

Every frame is different, but here’s a guide so you know what to expect:

• Resprays start at £350 for a single-colour stove enamel finish.
• Most projects fall in the £450–£500 range once you add details like panels, lug-lining, or transfers.

Chrome work is where things vary the most:

• Small touches (fork ends, dropouts, etc.): £60–£150.
• Front and rear stays (the classic look): around £350.
• Full chrome plating: £1,000+.

Frame repairs and modifications:

• From £50 for small jobs up to £1,000 for major rebuilds.
• Most restoration jobs that need tube replacement or heavy repair add about £250.

Assembly and rebuilds:

• We can strip and refit parts, from £50 for a headset or bottom bracket right up to £300 for a full rebuild.

We’ll always be upfront before we begin — no hidden surprises. The price depends on what your frame needs, and we’ll guide you through the options that make sense.

“When you bring us a frame, you’re not just paying for paint — you’re investing in proper craftsmanship, the kind that lasts for decades. A quick job might cost less today, but a properly restored frame will outlast it many times over.”

“The Final Touch”

The last step is always the same: every frame is cleaned, checked, and made ready for the road. It’s not just about the shine — it’s about respect for the craft, and for the rider who trusted us with it.

“When it leaves our hands, it’s ready for yours.”