Originally Posted by
Andrew R Stewart
I have used a variety of warming methods over the years. If the paint is somewhat dry (but still impressionable) the handling to get the frame above your local pizza shop's oven for an over night stay goes a lot easier:) as also placing the frame above the house furnace. Attics in the summers, cars in sunny warmth, kitchen ovens with a "tent" of sheets over a chair, hair dryers and more.
The curing rate of most paint is not linier WRT the temp levels. So if the painted frame is, say, 75* it might take days/weeks to fully harden. At 125* it might take a few hours and at 175* it might take under an hour. I would caution of not going too hot. I have seen decals gain "zits" when heated to 300*+. I suspect the out gassing of the paint under the decal was too fast for the gas's ability to escape through the decal.
I have toyed with building a curing oven/box. It would be a simple wooden construction with some baffling to deflect the direct blast of hot air coming from an industrial heat gun and an exit port placed just so.
What makes this all easier is to have some frame holding/support tools. I've brazed onto Bb cups and a der mounting bolt lengths of rod which can act as handles to carry and feet to place the frame flat or hang with. Doug Fattic used wooden shafts which can fit in the head tube and stick out past the HT as hand holds and such. Andy
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