Preserving the "Patina": chipped up paint

[Lewis Moon]

I'm getting an old track bike today that looks like it was run as a messenger bike for a while. Since I'll be using this as a commuter/train bike/rain bike/grocery gogetter, I'd rather that it didn't stand out. The paint is chipped to hell, but rather than doing a repaint, I'd like to keep the chips but preserve the steel. Is there some sort of spooge I can coat it with so that the chips don't start rusting? The seller said that the internals were treated with frame saver.

If there's any exterior rust I'll probably get it recoated.

[JAGI410]

This is what stickers are for.

[Lewis Moon]

This is what stickers are for.

Ha! Hadn't thought of that.

[likebikes]

i wouldn't worry about rust in arizona.

[Pegoready]

Grant Petersen recommends Chapstick.

[Stevemikesteve]

Spray paint it with a coat or two of clear-coat

[CiclistiCliff]

spray with wd40 at night. wipe off in the morning.

[bobswire]

I use this on both my car and bike frames, works great for both cleaning and preserving, Mothers Waterless Wash & Wax. http://www.mothers.com/02_products/05644.html#&slider1=3

[drewellison]

Clear nail polish?

[Lewis Moon]

Clear nail polish?

That actually might work.

[rccardr]

Some of the newer paint chip repair kits now come with a clear finish coat in a separate compartment in the bottom with a separate sponge type applicator. The clear is thinnerj than nail polish, so it doesn't get gloppy, even with multiple coats.

But if the frame is a mess of lots of chips, scrapes, etc., then a spray can hit of clearcoat will be faster and easier.