Carbon frame recondition

dweben
dweben Posts: 34
edited July 2011 in Workshop
Hi, I have a carbon mountain bike, but figure more people on the roadie bunch will know about this. It's been scratched and worn, gone dull etc, with use and the occasional off. I'd like to tidy the frame up by polishing the scratches and putting the shine back into the frame.

I shoved the internet cd into my PC and it recommended using 1000 grade sandpaper and then rubbing it down with something called 'compound' though I don't know what this is. Has anyone gone through this process? Would an electric buffer do a better job than me doing it by hand? I don't want to go mad and take the lacquer off, just polish it up best as I can.

I did get a quote of £150 for a re-lacquer of the entire frame.

Cheers, Paul

Comments

  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    Compound = Polishing Compound - it's got a slight abrasive action and helps in cutting back the paint / lacquer. Available from automotive refinishers or possibly Halfords. Work through the grades of wet/dry to get ride of the old lacquer. I'd avoid using a mechanical device if your frame has a top-weave finish otherwise you'll wear through it to the uni-directional material underneath.
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • SteveR_100Milers
    SteveR_100Milers Posts: 5,987
    I wouldn't want to start polishing up a CF frame. If you inadvertantly go through the top coat then you might end up compromising its life expectancy.
    http://www.pontypoolrcc.co.uk/
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  • colsoop
    colsoop Posts: 217
    Is thje frame painted or just clear coated carbon ?

    How deep are the scratches, if you can feel them with your fingernail then you aren't likely to polish them out as they will be through the clearcoat and into basecoat.

    Smaller marks and swirl marks can be removed by polishing but you need the tools to do it properly or you will have arms the size of popeye.

    An electric buffer will be the quickest job but if you aren't used to using it you can make things worse by cutting too much off the surface or burning the paint.
  • skinnypunter
    skinnypunter Posts: 144
    If it's clear coated, you could go for a respray...

    In the boatbuilding world, I'd slap on a few new coats of epoxy resin and start rubbing down. Lovely finish, but heavy!
  • dweben
    dweben Posts: 34
    Ah hmm, not looking good then. It's naked carbon so I guess clear coat. Most of the scratches are from where the last guy had tri bags on the top tube, etc. There's some minor chipping from chainsuck but mostly the scratches are light. Its been knocked about from the odd crash and those knocks are fingernail deep.

    Functionally its fine, I've been using it a couple years. Not sure I want to spend £150 on making it look pretty though! Not really interested in making my 21 pound bike any heavier either. :P

    Cheers for the replies though chaps. Sounds like I need a pro!

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