should i raw my frame?

jay12

this is my bike:


the frame has a lot of chips and scratches on it and it's just looking horrible tbh. i was thinking of using my spare time now that i need to wait to get some new forks, to sand down my frame and polish it. i'll be using just sandpaper as the paint is very thin and then probably some polsih to get it nice and shiny

i was just thinking if someone else has done it and how it turned out. i don't want to be spending money to get it done professionally as i'm getting a new frame next summer anyway.
thoughts?

nicklouse

it will look dog poop.

cooldad

+1 potaturd

VWsurfbum

go for it, what you got to lose? your replacing it anyway?
sandpaper takes ages, use nitromorse then some real fine wet and dry paper.

Raymondavalon

No!

Why?

Firstly chips and scratches make a bike look well gnarly..
Secondly it's not a cheap frame and going the raw route would make it look cheapo!

bluechair84

strip it yourself, then get it powdercoated in white

nwmlarge

strip it and paint it yourself. it's not much effort with a simple frame like that

i did this...



to this


DSCF1386 by nwmlarge, on Flickr

in my shed

Anonymous

The former looks better

Chalky76

do it - mine is Raw and i like it (as well as a lot of people out on the trails). You can always get a decent paint job at some point in the future?

cooldad

deadkenny wrote:

The former looks better

+1 tasteful potato

ilovedirt

IMO it's not the sort of frame that would look good rawed....

delcol

strip it then try to get it polished....

bluechair84

delcol wrote:

strip ... polished....

I think I see where you're going here

Sorry sorry... spent too long in the CC yesterday...

1mancity2

If your getting a new frame next summer why bother?

jay12

1mancity2 wrote:

If your getting a new frame next summer why bother?

i'll have nothing to do over the weekends as i need to get new forks. i was going to do this once i finished my next build anyway and was coneplating doing it professionaly.

i might nitro-mors it and polish it. i've been looking at pinkbike and people have had some good results

1mancity2

I used to restore 80ies bmx and polishing the frame is not a hard job but time consuming, strip it with nitromors depending on if its powder or paint it will fall off or just sit there.

I would repaint it, ally in its raw state unless treated will oxidise.

jay12

some examples:
this was just nitro-mors'd


the same with this but then polished as well


i'm really not sure yet. i'd love to see what it looks like raw, and i really like that sort of finish. usually i like brightly colourd bikes but i appreciate a simple, good looking stealthy all black bikes or a raw'd frames.

people say to just use nitro mors without any sand paper and then leave it as it is or polish it

1mancity2

Strip it, clean it then if you want to polish it get a mop for a power drill and use autosol.

Anonymous

1mancity2 wrote:

I would repaint it, ally in its raw state unless treated will oxidise.

Oxidised aluminium acts as a protective coating and isn't a corrosive issue. Aluminium alloys often have enhanced corrosion resistance.

If you go raw, after polishing (if you want to) simply clear coat it. It's just paint without pigment.

Gives it a nice shine and takes the scratches a little instead of the frame.

jay12

1mancity2 wrote:

Strip it, clean it then if you want to polish it get a mop for a power drill and use autosol.

the person who raw'd the second frame used autosol. looks like it gives a nice finish

jay12

ps i might get some new decals for it if i do raw the frame

jay12

hand sanded with 320, 400, 800, 1000, 2000 and then polished. so shiny!

bigpee

I think raw frames have a certain charm, and think of the weight saving once you've ditched all that paint .

jay12

bigpee wrote:

I think raw frames have a certain charm, and think of the weight saving once you've ditched all that paint .

indeed

1mancity2

deadkenny wrote:

1mancity2 wrote:

I would repaint it, ally in its raw state unless treated will oxidise.

Oxidised aluminium acts as a protective coating and isn't a corrosive issue. Aluminium alloys often have enhanced corrosion resistance.

If you go raw, after polishing (if you want to) simply clear coat it. It's just paint without pigment.

Gives it a nice shine and takes the scratches a little instead of the frame.

I know its not corrosive, thats why I said it would "oxidise if untreated"

and if its being clear coated you will have to use a specific lacquer or it will not key and eventually flake off.

delcol

see raw then polish...

but i would defo clear coat it to protect it.....

a guy who i see up leequarry kyle did his chameleon stripped paw then polished it and clear coated it.. it looked really good......

snotty badger

I wouldn't "raw" it.

You need to have a lot of patience. I got bored polishing a cam cover and that was on a polishing wheel!

jay12

right, so because i will now have some forks way sooner that i first thought, i won't be rawing the frame. i would love to do it and see how it turns out but i won't have the time anymore.

but once my next build is finished i plan on getting the kinesis frame professionaly done and either raw'd and clearcoated or powercoated in another colour, but thats a long way away.

thanks for the input people

delcol

but once my next build is finished i plan on getting the kinesis frame professionaly done and either raw'd and clearcoated or powercoated in another colour, but thats a long way away

bloddy hell how much do paper rounds pay these days.... that sounds costly...

would look better though than doing it yourslef....

jay12

delcol wrote:

but once my next build is finished i plan on getting the kinesis frame professionaly done and either raw'd and clearcoated or powercoated in another colour, but thats a long way away

bloddy hell how much do paper rounds pay these days.... that sounds costly...

would look better though than doing it yourslef....

a lot more than back in your day!

386ka

nwmlarge wrote:

strip it and paint it yourself. it's not much effort with a simple frame like that

i did this...



to this


DSCF1386 by nwmlarge, on Flickr

in my shed

Nice job! A bit too blingy for me, but the powdercoated finish is definitely looking good. Would recommend this to OP. But don't know if powdercoating provides enough scratch or chip resistance to the frame?