What is the Raw Lacquer finish?

On each Brompton the steel frame parts are powder coated (rather than using wet paint) in order to give an even and durable finish. The plastic powder is sprayed at the frame part and attached with an electrostatic charge, it is then baked in an oven to melt and adhere it to the frame.
The Raw Lacquer finish uses the same powder coat process as the other frame colour options (with the plastic powder having no pigment); as such it gives identical durability and protection from corrosion.
The steel frame parts on all Brompton bicycles will dull and age over time and this is more obviously visible through the Raw Lacquer finish than on the coloured options; it’s also more difficult to see any chips or scratches in the Raw Lacquer finish until such time that the exposed metal begins to show signs of surface rust. Each bike made with the Raw Lacquer finish has a unique appearance due to variations in the surface colouration of the metalwork and brazing. As such it doesn’t have a ‘perfect’ look and should be considered an industrial finish that highlights the skilled workmanship that goes into brazing the bike; it is normal for the look and colouration to vary from bike to bike and also on each frame part.
Before all our bikes are painted, each frame part undergoes a phospher coating; this protects the insides of the tubes and prevents any surface rust from penetrating into the material and weakening the structure. Exposure to salt, water, dirt etc. will cause surface rusting on unpainted parts of the frame (such as the inside of the mainframe tube) but it won’t have any impact on the strength of the frame.

When ordering a Raw Lacquer bike, please be aware that it will be unique in appearance and there will be noticeable variation compared to bikes on display in your local Brompton dealer or those featured in our brochure or website.