Helitape / Best Way To Protect A Frame?

mikeyj28

If i use helitape on my bike and then remove it eg 6 months later will it take all my paoint away or is it pretty easy to come off?
Also (providing i smooth it out/don't leave air pockets etc) does the helitape tend to come off/blister after prolonged contact with water/strong sunlight?

Should i even use helitape or just go with cable patches/chainstay guard?
Thanks

Stu Coops

I use helitape on my bikes and to be honest it depends on which type you buy as the cheap stuff is crap it peels and turns yellow, dirt gets underneath which happened on both my bikes but if you pay a bit extra for th decent stuff and take your time putting it on you will have no issues.

The 3M stuff i used this time was a lot thicker and much stickier i also used a hair dryer to warm it so it remained plyable to shape and made sure there were no air bubbles but if you do judt stick a pin in it and push the air out.

Mine has been on the bike around 6 months now and still looks great but as for removing it can't really answer that as this stuff really bonds but i wouldn't think it would take the paint off "famous last words"

boristhespie

Take it off with hairdrier. Try laquer spray also. It used it on my orange over letraset decals of my name and it lasted for years. You can get it in car accessory shops and some of it is used for keeping water away from contacts so is built for wet.

plugp7

Not sure what make mine is, 3M etc, but I got it from biketart.com.
Sticks like whatsit to a blanket, tough and no discolouration and it's been on for over 3 years now.
Edit - it's 3M.

mikeyj28

boristhespie wrote:

Take it off with hairdrier. Try laquer spray also. It used it on my orange over letraset decals of my name and it lasted for years. You can get it in car accessory shops and some of it is used for keeping water away from contacts so is built for wet.

That's interesting that it lasted over the letraset decals.
Just don't want to put it on and then take it off in a year and have a partly stripped frame/ all decals missing.
Does it ruin the look of the frame or it's hardly noticeable?

julesreece17

wasnt there a thread on here recently where someone had removed helitape and it took off his paint? think it was an 'on one' frame, and he ended up with a replacement frame under warrenty lol

mikeyj28

Julesreece17 wrote:

wasnt there a thread on here recently where someone had removed helitape and it took off his paint? think it was an 'on one' frame, and he ended up with a replacement frame under warrenty lol

Yes I read that. He had taken it off and half of his paint on came off with it. That's what is bothering me. Guess its a chance you take

cooldad

Why anyone would want to cover the whole frame is beyond me. Just a few bits where you get cable rub is plenty.

stuisnew

cooldad wrote:

Why anyone would want to cover the whole frame is beyond me. Just a few bits where you get cable rub is plenty.

^^^^this, plus I'd always use a chainstay protector.

mikeyj28

stuisnew wrote:

cooldad wrote:

Why anyone would want to cover the whole frame is beyond me. Just a few bits where you get cable rub is plenty.

^^^^this, plus I'd always use a chainstay protector.

True point. I can see the logic in doing the high risk/more prone areas. Where can i source a carbon rock guard for the underside of my tube to reduce denting/cracking chances? My LBS doesn't stock one but can i get a guard that goes behind the downtube that protects the rear shock (other than the downtube) as i know CUBE has smallish one on the Fritzz.

ThePriory1978

Again, i use 3M heli. Worth the premium over cheap stuff. Stickier and thicker.

Come to think of it think my bike is more heli than paint now.
Have heli'd - top tube (short rub) down tube (stone chips) chain stays (chain slap) seat stays (heal rub) Seat tube (stone chips from rear wheel) all cable rub and reverb rub points, which is pretty much everywhere else. Only the rear sus swing arm dont have nowt on it.
Bike now weighs a ton but will stay looking great.

Mr Dog

Spent the weekend in my slippers helitaping my new bike. A real pain. I'm now better with a hairdryer than most hairdressers! Hope it stays looking good. Got mine for £10 for 2 meters from ebay. I've plastered it everywhere.

Richie63

I use the Zentec Shelter tape on the underside of the down tube so much better than the Helitape/ lizard skins stuff twice as thick and after you watch the vid
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... nlxj7X86Nw

you'll want some too pricey but well worth it

boristhespie

Also 3m Scotchguard tape for is so much cheaper than heli which should also be 3m.

boristhespie

mikeyj28 wrote:

boristhespie wrote:

Take it off with hairdrier. Try laquer spray also. It used it on my orange over letraset decals of my name and it lasted for years. You can get it in car accessory shops and some of it is used for keeping water away from contacts so is built for wet.

That's interesting that it lasted over the letraset decals.
Just don't want to put it on and then take it off in a year and have a partly stripped frame/ all decals missing.
Does it ruin the look of the frame or it's hardly noticeable?

The spray I used was invisible.