clearcoat over polished parts?

[AngryScientist]

wow, i had to go pretty damn far back in my archives to retrieve this picture!

years ago, i polished a set of shimano crank arms. they looked great right after i polished them, but they have oxidized and look like general crap now.

would it be advisable to re-polish them to a high shine, and put a coat of automotive clearcoat over them to make the finish more durable?

will that kill the luster?

what do you think?

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZYVkr4UV8xo/UKlqjV8TEyI/AAAAAAAAA9U/-116j5HLjuc/s840/IMG_0333+(2).JPG

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Dgk8qR3V59Y/UKlqgXs5NWI/AAAAAAAAA9M/H9KY2-QeIfI/s640/IMG_0330.JPG

[thirdgenbird]

As long as they didn't get scratched really bad, they should polish up quick just using polish compound. The sanding process may not apply.

[AngryScientist]

As long as they didn't get scratched really bad, they should polish up quick just using polish compound. The sanding process may not apply.

so does that mean you advocate against the clearcoat?

it just seems like exposed polished alu that is open to environmental effects tarnishes pretty fast, no??

[zmudshark]

I think that once you remove the anodizing and polish, you are committed to a lifetime of polishing.

NTTAWWT

[thirdgenbird]

I'm not against it, but I've found it easy to hit it occasionally with polish. You can also use an automotive wax to help prolong the look. There are also some sealants made for polished aluminum. I haven't used them, but I hear good things.

[Tony T]

Just Polish.

[Dead Man]

Why not try it?

Aluminum does kinda self-anodize by reacting with oxygen and forming a thin layer of aluminum oxide, which you've observed.. No getting around that. Lots of shimano parts are clear coated... It works right up until it stops working. For some, seems to not stop working. 6600? Some still has its clear coat and looks great, some the clear coat didn't hold up and they look like total ****..

Guess it depends on the quality of the clear and the environment .. But the parts that have help up obviously look great

[one60]

this polish will give you a mirror-like polish will little effort that won't oxidize.

http://www.mothers.com/02_products/product/images/05106.jpg


https://www.flickr.com/photos/43980522@N05/4239868624/

[Black Dog]

this polish will give you a mirror-like polish will little effort that won't oxidize.

http://www.mothers.com/02_products/product/images/05106.jpg


Wow! That crank looks amazing. :eek: The billet polish instruction say not to use on coated Al. Do they mean clear coated and not anodized? The campy cranks are certainly clear anodized.

[54ny77]

it'll scratch.

just keep 'em as is and wipe down with rag & windex after a ride or every few rides (assuming it doesn't get ridiculously dirty), then once in awhile spend 10 min. with a rag and simichrome.

presto, good as new.

[ultraman6970]

THat you can do something doesnt mean it is the right thing to do, I will explain... you can polish and clear those parts the problem is that the clear wont stick to it because has nothing to stick to, was polished. After a few weeks or months the clear will start peeling.

The other solution is just like sand it scotch brite and then clear, but you have to scratch the surface so the clear has something to stick to. No idea how it will look.

I would try to keep the surface of those parts clean and dry so they do not get fugly.

[one60]

Wow! That crank looks amazing. :eek: The billet polish instruction say not to use on coated Al. Do they mean clear coated and not anodized? The campy cranks are certainly clear anodized.

Believe they are referring to clear coat. Since this is a polishing compound, the abrasives could scratch the clear coat.

The cranks & chainrings in the photo had the factory applied clear anodizing removed using Jestco Products Anodize Remover. Following that step, they were hand polished. (BTW,it was simply good fortune that the laser etched Campagonolo graphics were not damaged or removed).

I am sure others here may know but earlier Campy components did not have clear anodizing. Those can polished straight away.