Help - Maintaining satin finish on Ti bike ?

HonestAl
HonestAl Posts: 406
edited May 2009 in Workshop
Anyone got any experience keeping satin finishes looking good?

I've just bought a Planet X Road Pro Ti. It came a couple of days ago and I'm really pleased with it. Whilst not exactly cheap, way more affordable than pretty much anything other Titanium rides. I rode it today for the first time, and it seems great, excellent balance of handling and comfort IMO. I took a couple of pics in case anyone is interested

3454561385_8f07c91a12.jpg

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i reckon the satin finish is very cool, and contrasts nicely with the glossy finishes on my other couple of bikes. But whilst it's cool, it shows every mark. Handle the frame with slightly grubby hands - nice big smear; sweat on it - nice smear; splash it through a puddle - you get the picture. (Obviously a quick rinse over gets rid of the marks)

Now there are 2 things I can do.
(1) See if anyone here has experience with this sort of finish and how to reduce the marking, or
(2) suck it up, and learn to enjoy the rugged, "lived in" look till the next wash

So any ideas anyone? I've wondered about some of the sealant finishes you'd normally use on car paint or the like?

Anyhoo, thanks for any help.
"The only absolute statement is that everything is relative" - anon

Comments

  • guilliano
    guilliano Posts: 5,495
    If you were the same size as me I'd be robbing your garage you lucky sod!!!!
  • Airmiles
    Airmiles Posts: 101
    Quick rub with a cloth + GT85 clears fingermarks, watermarks etc.
    I'm not saying pedestrians in Hackney are stupid.. but a fixed bayonet would be more use than a fixed gear...
  • flasher
    flasher Posts: 1,734
    Wouldn't worry, I just wipe mine down after a ride. I've seen furniture polish recommended but I've not tried it.

    What you will need is some Scotch Brite ultra fine (grey) check ebay to buy. When you get a scratch a quick rub with the Scotch Brite and it magically disappears :D

    See this Lynskey video watch how they finish the frame (I'm sure the PX frame is made by them). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5-vUMLdI6c
  • HonestAl
    HonestAl Posts: 406
    Cool, thanks guys. And yep, Lynskey do make the PX frames.
    Flasher, is yours a satin finish? I'd heard about using fine wire wool or something to work out scratches and wondered what the effect would be on the matt surface. I'm sure it won't be too long till I find out. Thanks for the tip on the Scotch Brite. ebay here I come

    cheers
    "The only absolute statement is that everything is relative" - anon
  • flasher
    flasher Posts: 1,734
    Not sure of the difference in finishes, my Ti is a VN and has a fine brushed look, I guess the satin could be different, maybe a beadblasted finish? I'd email PX and ask what they recommend.
  • HonestAl
    HonestAl Posts: 406
    Thanks Flasher. Yep, the satin finish is quite matt, as you say I suspect it's blasted. Given Ti is so inert I reckon I'd have to work hard to damage it with any surface cleaner or polish. Reckon I'll try what you guys have suggested. Oh yes, and not keep it in the garage in case guilliani comes around :)
    "The only absolute statement is that everything is relative" - anon
  • Slow Downcp
    Slow Downcp Posts: 3,041
    While it's clean, wipe a little baby oil over the frame with a clean cloth and wipe away any excess - stops fingermarks etc.
    Carlsberg don't make cycle clothing, but if they did it would probably still not be as good as Assos
  • Bhima
    Bhima Posts: 2,145
    Can't answer your question, but how have you balanced the bike in the pics? :shock:
  • socrates
    socrates Posts: 453
    Pledge furniture polish. Works a treat.
  • guilliano
    guilliano Posts: 5,495
    Bhima wrote:
    Can't answer your question, but how have you balanced the bike in the pics? :shock:

    He has a kickstand fitted!
  • dodgy
    dodgy Posts: 2,890
    guilliano wrote:
    Bhima wrote:
    Can't answer your question, but how have you balanced the bike in the pics? :shock:

    He has a kickstand fitted!

    It would match that rather natty seatpack...

    Anyway, baby wipes are the answer!
  • HonestAl
    HonestAl Posts: 406
    natty pack eh?? taking the piss will get you nowhere ;).

    I guess I should let the "how did you balance it" run a bit longer, OR spin some yarns about helium filled balloons OR explain how I balanced it then ran like buggery to take the photo before it fell over ... but the dismal truth was that I cheated and used simple stand behind the bike. That, and 2 minutes on photoshop gave the mysterious result.

    See, the truth is even sadder than the pack eh? Now a kickstand, that's an idea. and perhaps some of those nice tassles... hmmm
    "The only absolute statement is that everything is relative" - anon
  • HonestAl
    HonestAl Posts: 406
    Interesting snippet (well, I think so!!) Comparing my bike to pics on the PX and Linskeys site I noticed that all their pics had "Made in Tennessee" stickers on them. Not exactly a big deal but in my feeble mind I think it adds something. So I wrote to both PX and, as a complete long shot, the sales department at Lynskeys.

    Imagine my surprise when I got a response from Mark Lynskey saying they'd be only too happy to send me a bunch of decals for it. And today a nice little pack of Lynskeys transfers popped through the post.

    How's that for customer service - and I'm not even a customer of theirs!!!
    "The only absolute statement is that everything is relative" - anon
  • Barrie_G
    Barrie_G Posts: 479
    What I use on my ti frame is a chamios leather from a auto shop, with some soft wax polish rubbed into it, just a quick rub over if it's looking a little grubby and it lifts finger, water or oily marks right off.

    Not too much wax on the chamois though, you're not trying to polish it :wink:
  • dennisn
    dennisn Posts: 10,601
    I read somewhere that toothpaste works well in keeping that "satin" look.
    Can't say for sure as I don't have a titanium bike. Maybe.
    :? :? :?

    Dennis Noward
  • HonestAl
    HonestAl Posts: 406
    guess it'd smell nice and fresh too :lol: I might try one or two of the others before I give the old Euthymol tube a squeeze I reckon
    "The only absolute statement is that everything is relative" - anon
  • guilliano
    guilliano Posts: 5,495
    There's always the option of letting it develop a "natural" used finish..... or is that my MTB side coming out again?
  • HonestAl
    HonestAl Posts: 406
    Not sure I'm looking for it to look too naturally used yet, want to keep it looking a bit newish for a good while yet
    "The only absolute statement is that everything is relative" - anon
  • PHcp
    PHcp Posts: 2,748
    Great looking bike. I like that finish, but if you're unlucky enough to scratch it there's not a lot you can do. The polishing out with scourers, wire wool, toothpaste or anything else will make it worse. It's a bead blasted finish and only having a mark re bead blasted will restore it. Most of the reccomendations above work fine with the more common brushed finish and if you tried it thats exactly what you'd get, a patch of brushed finish. Good news is, they don't mark that easily. A friends 3 year old XACD with that finish still looks new with almost daily use.
  • Mad One
    Mad One Posts: 82
    HonestAl,

    Hope your liking the ride of your Ti frame as much as I am mine?

    Andy at Planet X advised me the following for keeping the satin finish looking fine:- To keep the satin finish frames looking tip-top, try using some silicone spray - you can get it from Halfords (dashboard cleaner)
  • HonestAl
    HonestAl Posts: 406
    Thanks for the tip, and yep, I'm very much enjoying it. It's really comfortable and handles well at the same time. A year ago when I first started getting interested I'd have given you a cynical look if you'd have told me that a Ti frame gave a significantly different ride to an Al one which gives a different ride to a carbon one. Now I'm completely sold.
    "The only absolute statement is that everything is relative" - anon
  • brushed
    brushed Posts: 63
    PHcp wrote:
    Great looking bike. I like that finish, but if you're unlucky enough to scratch it there's not a lot you can do. The polishing out with scourers, wire wool, toothpaste or anything else will make it worse. It's a bead blasted finish and only having a mark re bead blasted will restore it. Most of the reccomendations above work fine with the more common brushed finish and if you tried it thats exactly what you'd get, a patch of brushed finish. Good news is, they don't mark that easily. A friends 3 year old XACD with that finish still looks new with almost daily use.

    This is spot on

    You either accept the marks as it being christened OR have it re bead blasted OR have it brushed.

    Take care on the drive side chainstay as this is where marks are more likely to trash the finish.

    (If you get bored of the finish and need a brushing tutorial l have done two myself and you can't tell the difference between a factory finish and my efforts.)
    FCN 4 summer
    FCN 6 Winter

    'Strong, Light, Cheap : choose two' Keith Bontrager
  • HonestAl
    HonestAl Posts: 406
    thanks brushed. I think it'll be some time till I get bored of the finish but I'd definitely be interested in seeing your tutorial if you've written something out?
    "The only absolute statement is that everything is relative" - anon
  • Bhima
    Bhima Posts: 2,145
    PHcp wrote:
    The polishing out with scourers, wire wool, toothpaste or anything else will make it worse.

    Sandpaper?
  • guilliano
    guilliano Posts: 5,495
    Coat the bugger in vole skin..... then a quick spray with a decent hair spray and spike it to make it more aerodynamic!
  • Burghley
    Burghley Posts: 412
    Hi

    A serious reply - I second the use of baby oil. Rub a small quantity over the frame with a soft cloth.

    Works a treat on mine, particularly in removing the finger marks.

    Rgds

    Pete
    www.bikesetup.co.uk
    miles more cycling comfort
  • HonestAl
    HonestAl Posts: 406
    Thanks for the suggestions so far. I reckon I'll give the vole skin a miss, it'd take too many voles. So far I've tried giving it a wipe with some degreasre followed by some car internal polish which gives a nice flat sheen - works well on carbon frames too. Next I reckon I might give the baby wipes / baby oil a spin. I'm sure brushed and PHcp are right about rubbing it with anything abrasive, so I'll learn to love the dings ... when it gets some
    "The only absolute statement is that everything is relative" - anon
  • ohlala!
    ohlala! Posts: 121
    Just use a basic furniture polish.
  • neeb
    neeb Posts: 4,473
    CIF (JIF) is good for cleaning Ti (can't guarantee it for that finish though). Don't worry about scratches on Ti, you won't get many, you won't be able to see them, and even if you can they will just make the bike look more cool anyway, in a mad max / cyberpunk knd of way. Not worrying about scratches is one of the best reasons for getting Ti!