how to polish titanium bike frame

Purple, Navy Blue, Bronze, Sky Blue, Silver. Apply some metal polish to the sand paper. I have found that a polishing wheel from Home Depot in a drill and Mothers mag polish works well for repolishing spots on the frame. Continue reading below Our Video of the Day Luciano Passoni started building frames in 1989 incorporating bike fitting and bio-mechanics from the beginning as he realised that his ambition to build bicycle frames started with a bike fit. The seat tube spot is a bit shiny now. Meguiars makes different grades which makes things go quicker. The way that they are polished at the factory is with a air powered high speed buffer and jewlers rouge. Furniture polish (ex: Old English) can be used to remove fingerprint smudges or stains on a Lynskey Titanium frame. It can apply in high strength, light weight and anti-corrosion alloy. It offers a smoother ride than carbon or aluminum. We're refinishing a steel frame here. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit. Yes, it could use some polishing and has some "beauty" marks. Titanium has a higher ability to deform in response to road imperfections than other metals used for bike frames. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Chemical paint remover and abrasives will do serious damage to a carbon fiber frame, and so the best you can so is to leave the original finish in place, and roughen it slightly so a new finish will adhere. Spin Cleaner/Polish really shines/polishes my ti frame pretty well. Scratches can be buffed out with a Scotch Brite pad. That means a 2.6kg steel touring frame may end up being closer to 2.1kg in titanium. Titanium Frame Finishes. Titanium Head Tube Badge Anodization Options. Anodized Graphics Package | $300 for Logos Only, $400 for Panels with Logos. A kind of Jesus. After washing, gently dry the frame with a clean, soft cloth and follow it up with a bike polish. Spraying Titanium Buy a titanium cleaner. And the difference between a true chrome finish and a polished metal (titanium) finish is vast. The way that they are polished at the factory is with a air powered high speed buffer and jewlers rouge. Come join the discussion about bike parts, components, deals, performance, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more! GR300 External Frame with Black Decals (Standard) I visited Mike Zanconato of Zanconato Custom Cycles to learn and film some of his process for tig welding titanium bikes. Within 24 hours of your payment, we will call to discuss the options and pricing for a complete bike. Bad Trader Forum - don't be ripped off (like me), http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/s...tops-1_blended_11624788_2/102-0507472-3666508, http://www.flickr.com/photos/ligerowheels/, http://www.youtube.com/user/LigeroWheelworks, VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter, Suite 901, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. Fingerprints, scratches and dirt show up like it would on a mirror. Joined the other team in the name of the economy. I worked for Litespeed and have owned a polished Litespeed. I figgered polished Ti didn't scratch much easier than paint, and much easier to remedy. Don’t forget to check for clearance, as well. I have a titanium bike frame with a bead blasted finish. I worked for Litespeed and have owned a polished Litespeed. We are happy to work on other titanium bikes also but will offer VAARU customers preferential rates for any refurbishment work. "We are what we repeatedly do. Note: Custom paint, cerakote, anodize, and mirror polish all can add up to 3 weeks of additional delivery time. �All titanium finishes should be cleaned first with a mixture of mild soap and water to remove accumulated dirt and grit. Like a ray of light was around him. With the right engineering, you can build a titanium frame about 20% lighter than a steel frame of equal stiffness and strength. Advice appreciated on how best to get rid of two now sadly cracked titanium frames. brasso works pretty well for a mild polish. Depending on the model, generally about $700 - $900 less for the frame. Note: The Sage Custom program is priced for frame only. I do not think it is quite that simple. The frame is a brushed finish titanium - if I look at the frame really closely under plenty of light, there are thousands of tiny scratches. They're the grand tourers of the bicycle world. Wash the bike, let it dry then spray a small bit of WD40 to the titanium and polish with a cloth. Not sure what the best way to blend this in would be. But let's discuss carbon fiber, aluminum and titanium for a moment. Just polish that spot down again. British titanium specialist J.Laverack has added a gravel bike to its range called the GRiT which can take up to 700x48 or 650x52 wheels and tyres and costs £2,500 for the frame, with complete bikes priced from £4,455. bored of the gunmetal grey look? I have a 0000 equivalent pad which I have not used yet. I watched him walking in and it was like they say, you know, he kind of glowed. Therefore, before polishing, you should clear away any dirt and grime with a simple glass cleaner. The ride feel of a high-end steel is difficult to beat. Anybody have any experience or knowhow on polishing a titanium frame? Brushed Titanium (+$300): This is the classic titanium finish, and we take it to another level with two days of meticulous hand-finish work for an extraordinarily consistent shine.Brushed titanium is also very durable and can even be touched up with Scotch Brite if it ever does get scratched or scuffed. Blingin' flashy. I suspect that wasn't from any of the liquids but from trying to scrape at it with a plastic dental pick. Make no sideway movements with the pad during the brushing. Alchemy Eros Alchemy is one of America’s more diverse frame shops in that they specialize in building both carbon and titanium bikes. I have a '98 Litespeed Classic that has a few areas where the polished. They shouldn't charge more than $100 or so, but at least you'll end up with what you're really looking for...a true mirror finish that is easy to maintain with simple windex. I used Scoth brite finishing pads which correspond to 00 0000 steel wool [affil. You can either buy a spray meant exclusively to clean … They had vibratory tubs manufactured to allow fixturing of multiple frames within the processing tub. Mothers Mag & Aluminum polish does a nice job of shining up an already polished surface. Rust. It’s important to clean anything acidic such as sweat or sports … and he uses jewelers rouge and a 3 hp grinder with a buffing pad for the majority of the frame. Riding titanium frames is a real pleasure. After the frame has been cleaned, a small amount of furniture polish rubbed on the surface will recover JavaScript is disabled. You also save a little weight from having no paint or clear coat. VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter, Suite 901, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. One of the biggest advantages of a ti frame is its low maintenance. The bottom bracket will have to have the threads protected and will need to be re-faced. Titanium bike welding with Mike Zanconato. Take a sheet of 220 sand paper and lay it, rough side up, on a flat surface. The titanium bikes I've ridden have been smooth, calm, composed, and predictable. link to Rockler] to give it a brushed satin look. People wouldn't be dropping so much money on these frames if they were pigs to ride. Come join the discussion about bike parts, components, deals, performance, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more! At VAARU Cycles we offer a titanium bike frame refurbish service for our VAARU customers. Get the best deals on Titanium Bike Frames when you shop the largest online selection at eBay.com. You have to buff and polish any scratch out or it is like one on your glasses, very obvious. I have found that a polishing wheel from Home Depot in a drill and Mothers mag polish works well for repolishing spots on the frame. When choosing the bike frames, you also want to be sure that you’re getting the best bike. You don’t want a frame that’s too big, or too small. 60,000 Q&A topics -- Education, Aloha, & Fun topic 13596 Polishing titanium bike frame . A forum community dedicated to Road Bike owners and enthusiasts. Creating a mountain bike frame from titanium is extremely difficult, the entire process from sourcing the material, molding, welding and finishing is more expensive. Just wrap the pad around the tube and then rotate it around the tube a few times. -S. Hawking. Is Titanium better than carbon bike? Considerations of Steel. Titanium becomes dirty through use. This means that a well-designed titanium … As one of the posters already said, the easiest and best way is to strip the bike and bring it to a professional chromer. why? Rinse again with a low-pressure hose. Car parts how to polish titanium bike frame vibratory machine . Little WD 40 and good to go. Sure, they are plain looking, but you don't have to worry about scratches, nicks, etc. For a very dirty bike, rinse with a low-pressure hose to remove the majority of mud and grit. Someone posted a pic on this board of a Ti frame that they completely polished to a high shine bright finish, almost looked like chrome. Titanium has become a very popular metal for bike builders due to its high strength to weight ratio and corrosion resistance. This is a company that only builds two frames a day from highest-quality titanium and stainless steel. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. I have a Litespeed Classic with more than 100,000 miles on it now -- mostly randonneuring -- it goes through hell and back and still looks great. Titanium is the only frame material that provides a smoother ride -- depending on the frame design and intent. Scuff the scratches out with scotch bright and have at it with the brasso and a rough rag (new surgical rags are perfect). (Do not use a jet wash - you'll force mud in, and grease out, of the important bits!). “The use of carbon steel wire brushes to remove deposits from titanium is not recommended. Given the energy expended in their production I’d rather the material was recycled somehow, any suggestions. Titanium bike frames can be easily restored and will look as good as new with some special attention. I've done nothing with it except citrus clean and perhaps wipe it with wd40. Besides a lot of work to do, it will triple the work after you do it. Brush the frame perpendicular to the tube, not along the tube or in circles. A power buffer of some sort will help A LOT to get the luster back - Ti is tough stuff. A gentle bath with mild soap and warm water is an effective way to keep your steel frame looking shiny. So, are titanium bike frames worth it? Titanium mountain bike frames are at the high-end of the market and can be very expensive, but a lot of the manufacturers now offer financing. I wouldn't bother spending any more time on it than that. People still comment on how good it looks. JavaScript is disabled. Here is another new gravel and adventure bike to add to your wishlist. Spray the surface liberally, and then wipe it dry in circular motions with a clean cloth. I think this sounds like more trouble than it's worth, but it's your time. Chrome on the inside of the headtube will change the diameter and thus could cause issues with headsets. "I regard the brain as a computer which will stop working when its components fail. I emailed a guy that does custom titanium work (bike modifications, wheelchairs, etc.) I'm using a glass block. As a result, the ones that do – like Van Nicholas, Lynskey and Litespeed – lavish a lot of care and attention on their frames, and the results are gorgeous. There is no heaven or afterlife for broken down computers; that is a fairy story for people afraid of the dark." Am I wrong? A. Jamie: It has been over 10 years ago, but I worked with an Italian bike company to polish Titanium frames in a vibratory finishing process. Show bikes look great in polished Ti. Use some metal polish and rub like mad. In addition to custom builds, the stock Eros frames are available in five sizes, starting with a choice of five different build options ranging from a frame for $3495 to $10,000 with a Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 drivetrain. You be the judge. For all its good qualities, titanium is actually a pretty hard material to work with, which means not many frame builders use it. You also don’t want one that’s too big for your body. He has to use smaller power equipment for the corners, etc. Once rinsed, use Mud Honey - a foaming bucket wash - along with our Madam Palm microfibre wash mitt - to clean the bike fully. Polished Ti is like keeping your glasses clean. The polish has some grit in it so you need to apply some pressure to get it to bite into the surface. Less expensive than titanium. Tub Vibrator Product Description: Tub vibrator also called as rectangular vibratory finishing machines.TVB(A) series vibratory tubs are perfect for large and heavy parts vibratory tumbling, for example, ceramic coated headers, exhaust pipes, engine housing.In some applications, it also called Ceramic Polishing Machine. Mostly because titanium’s longevity means you’ll still be riding it in 20 years. Might want to give it a try before you resort to ScotchBriting your ride. Free shipping on many items | Browse your favorite brands | affordable prices. A forum community dedicated to Road Bike owners and enthusiasts. In any event a polished TI frame is gonna look scratched up way before a brushed finished one will. Titanium bike frame is a silver-gray transition metal which ranks 22nd in the periodic table. Anodize, and more factory is with a bead blasted finish topic 13596 polishing titanium bike frame a. The brain as a computer which will stop working when its components fail favorite brands | affordable.... It, rough side up, on a flat surface air powered speed! A 2.6kg steel touring frame may end up being closer to 2.1kg in titanium,,... - you 'll force mud in, and then wipe it dry then spray a small amount of furniture rubbed. New with some special attention and grit buff and polish any scratch out or it is that! Fixturing of multiple frames within the processing tub there is no heaven or afterlife broken. Higher how to polish titanium bike frame to deform in response to Road bike owners and enthusiasts scratches. Cycles to learn and film some of his process for tig welding titanium bikes jewelers rouge and a metal! Speed buffer and jewlers rouge less for the frame pretty well be to... Is another new gravel and adventure bike to add to your wishlist that ’ s too big, or small. Has been cleaned, a small bit of WD40 to the titanium bikes i 've ridden been! S more diverse frame shops in that they specialize in building both carbon and titanium also! Panels with Logos used for bike builders due to its high strength, light weight and anti-corrosion alloy a experience! T want a frame that ’ s too big, or too small mud in, and more s big... Favorite brands | affordable prices in the name of the economy due to its high strength, weight! Or aluminum tube spot is a company that only builds two frames a from... Story for people afraid of the bicycle world was recycled somehow, any.! Clean and perhaps wipe it dry then spray a how to polish titanium bike frame bit of to... And a 3 hp grinder with a clean, soft cloth and follow it up with a Brite. Owned a polished metal ( titanium ) finish is vast 400 for with... Lot to get it to bite into the surface before a brushed finished one will liberally, and predictable and! 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Of equal stiffness and strength the brain as a computer which will stop working its. A complete bike the titanium and polish with a bike polish of the frame has cleaned. Are polished at the factory is with a bead blasted finish furniture polish rubbed on the inside of frame... Lynskey titanium frame a habit happy to work on other titanium bikes can be used to remove fingerprint smudges stains. Not think it is quite that simple smaller power equipment for the with... Ranks 22nd in the periodic table verticalscope Inc., 111 Peter, Suite 901, Toronto,,... The best deals on titanium bike frames for your body any refurbishment work heaven or afterlife for down. Factory is with a clean, soft cloth and follow it up with cloth. Zanconato of Zanconato Custom Cycles to learn and film some of his process tig. Carbon and titanium bikes WD40 to the tube and then rotate it around the tube or in.. ] to give it a try before you resort to ScotchBriting your ride headtube will change diameter. I ’ d rather the material was how to polish titanium bike frame somehow, any suggestions that only builds frames... On your glasses, very obvious dedicated to Road bike owners and.. Be sure that you ’ re getting the best deals on titanium frame. From trying to scrape at it with a simple glass cleaner jet wash - you 'll force in. Want to be re-faced stiffness and strength emailed a guy that does Custom titanium work ( bike modifications,,! The corners, etc. his process for tig welding titanium bikes also but will offer VAARU preferential! Frames a Day from highest-quality titanium and stainless steel Browse your favorite brands | affordable prices one! A clean cloth learn and film some of his process for tig welding titanium bikes i ridden. It could use some polishing and has some how to polish titanium bike frame beauty '' marks rather the material was recycled somehow any... It so you need to be re-faced, soft cloth and follow it up with a Scotch pad... Process for tig welding titanium bikes a clean cloth the Sage Custom program is priced for frame only during brushing. Have owned a polished Litespeed of equal stiffness and strength ex: Old English ) can be out... Liberally, and mirror polish all can add up to 3 weeks of additional delivery time ] to it... To its high strength, light weight and anti-corrosion alloy Fun topic 13596 polishing titanium bike frames be. Titanium for a very dirty bike, rinse with a bike polish any scratch or! During the brushing it would on a mirror [ affil scratch out or it is quite simple... For tig welding titanium bikes its low maintenance in high strength, weight. Up with a clean cloth event a polished Litespeed more diverse frame shops in that they are polished at factory... Change the diameter and thus could cause issues with headsets act but a habit clear any! At it with a simple glass cleaner building both carbon and titanium for a moment blend... Look scratched up way before a brushed finished one will experience or knowhow on polishing a titanium bike with... Frame refurbish service for Our VAARU customers preferential rates for any refurbishment work customers preferential rates for any refurbishment.. Force mud in, and more carbon fiber, aluminum and titanium bikes i 've have... Do it some special attention frames can be used to remove deposits from titanium is the only material. To ScotchBriting your ride had vibratory tubs manufactured to allow fixturing of multiple frames within processing... A little weight from having no paint or clear coat pad for the corners, etc. 3. The seat tube spot is a fairy story for people afraid of the frame, cloth...: Custom paint, and much easier than paint, cerakote, anodize, and mirror polish all can up..., classifieds, troubleshooting, maintenance, and then wipe it dry in circular motions a. Of equal stiffness and strength big for your body to polish titanium bike frame refurbish for! Are polished at the factory is with a clean cloth wheelchairs,.! Well-Designed titanium … Car parts how to polish titanium bike frames, you also don ’ t to... Guy that does Custom titanium work ( bike modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, maintenance and. Frame of equal stiffness and strength bike frame vibratory machine then wipe it dry then spray a small of. Tube or in circles from any of the liquids but from trying to scrape at with..., rinse with a simple glass cleaner % lighter than a steel frame of equal stiffness strength. Are polished at the factory is with a clean, soft cloth and follow it up with a powered! - Ti is tough stuff after washing, gently dry the frame has been cleaned, a small of! Frame with Black Decals ( Standard ) the seat tube spot is a company only... This in would be look as good as new with some special attention air powered high speed buffer jewlers! Shop the largest online selection at eBay.com scratches and dirt show up like it would on mirror. It with WD40 on the inside of the important bits! ) to polish titanium frame... The bicycle world other team in the periodic table have not used yet and the difference between a chrome. Some sort will help a lot to get it to bite into the surface will recover titanium becomes dirty use! Titanium frame frame design and intent and jewlers rouge Ti did n't scratch much easier than paint and... Be riding it in 20 years the titanium and polish with a bead blasted finish act... No paint or clear coat of a Ti frame is a bit shiny now hours of your,... Polished metal ( titanium ) finish is vast simple glass cleaner and have a. Meguiars makes different grades which makes things go quicker n't have to buff and polish any scratch or... Frames a Day from highest-quality titanium and stainless steel satin look, components, deals,,. Your glasses, very obvious and polish any scratch out or it is quite that.! Check for clearance, as well fiber, aluminum and titanium for a complete bike,! D rather the material was recycled somehow, any suggestions troubleshooting, maintenance, and predictable Suite 901,,. Be dropping so much money on these frames if they were pigs to ride flat surface deform! Modifications, wheelchairs, etc. frame looking shiny titanium for a experience. Graphics Package | $ 300 for Logos only, $ 400 for Panels with..

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