Serotta decal removal and advice

[huck*this]

Took ownership of a minty Concours. Bike rides fanastic with etap and the NOS EightFive F3 fork. I didn't dig the vinyl wrap that was on it. Always looked dull and just don't believe those beautiful Ti tubes should be hidden.

Picture from this mornings ride:
https://scontent.fzty1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/66058193_748864705530528_5943996362684104704_o.jpg ?_nc_cat=107&_nc_oc=AQnvvqk-LlAYU_S7nSetUIdP432hxiKWf37BwdgOTbKGGz7wos7Yz3FgWF fpXvsl434&_nc_ht=scontent.fzty1-2.fna&oh=24b60dfc23cab05df6fe17e1aa822d2f&oe=5D7E7F48

So I took to taking off the wrap. It was labor intensive to say the least. But a labor of love and got to do it while the kids and wife played in the pool. So win win!
https://scontent.fzty1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/65923754_748864375530561_80409321153757184_o.jpg?_ nc_cat=105&_nc_oc=AQmSG6gKOFS2sy1MX_dEtlr2HyQ17pQe7_tlntwy0OQ C4eypomLmnVJAgbeP9gw7TCg&_nc_ht=scontent.fzty1-2.fna&oh=8269b9f00e9e77ab4a0d3cee5afe42bf&oe=5DAEDF5C
https://scontent.fzty1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/66393637_748864448863887_3423541349587091456_o.jpg ?_nc_cat=105&_nc_oc=AQlH9B9mbOvXTmG9Q8CNgKWnbi8xTgZvG-iPlgVp207bWFN-WLoGwWW7DImTM641pCI&_nc_ht=scontent.fzty1-2.fna&oh=f8b9541220ff3f0cb4c633992db1083c&oe=5DC3C58F
https://scontent.fzty1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/65967746_748864535530545_6609484902201032704_o.jpg ?_nc_cat=111&_nc_oc=AQmmhwMBQl7sT6FW4K66BxSakaQc6FQOmCyPzwNqSFL 97LaISTKIgCXHfF3aChO_7bw&_nc_ht=scontent.fzty1-1.fna&oh=736309d5583fe881289cd127e17a17d5&oe=5D7FD045
https://scontent.fzty1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/65792506_748864595530539_7288735934273552384_o.jpg ?_nc_cat=110&_nc_oc=AQkTwUhtr9HvyshSzVcrInmlvFzFP_ZZrfshh8t0XJn qnsi6znPnHAgULnarszr7YPI&_nc_ht=scontent.fzty1-1.fna&oh=42b5a1d9b36f81b2240158c3290b845e&oe=5DC1E847

Advice I am looking for is how to remove the gray streaky residue? The process I took to remove wrap was as follows:

Heat gun and Razor blade on Matte, bead blasted area
Heat Gun and Wooden stirrer on polished parts so it would not scratch the surface

Then used Bar keepers Friend on matte part with brillo pad. This did a great job but now for stage 2 looking to fine tune everything and make it perfect!

Pictures after finishing Stage 1:
https://scontent.fzty1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/66240232_748961358854196_5069479667610681344_o.jpg ?_nc_cat=108&_nc_oc=AQmhDDMVJSk53vEX-uIyCcw9CQUohEaPo2JbxCWCaiXOrkmNczIu07Ij8wKLyEjgLMg&_nc_ht=scontent.fzty1-2.fna&oh=5d0326422fe4ff61cda257cbb3f59613&oe=5DC63B2A
https://scontent.fzty1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/66479864_748961405520858_2061494447069200384_o.jpg ?_nc_cat=102&_nc_oc=AQno-D2cMRRiXcDk6DQ2jcOgOSGw_SnNWOkHZfdX_LymxTR4LJhANOE JXnY5FrwLHbI&_nc_ht=scontent.fzty1-2.fna&oh=35c298dca405ce7f850c65738235d676&oe=5DAC1209
https://scontent.fzty1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/66236078_748961518854180_5803824147859505152_o.jpg ?_nc_cat=110&_nc_oc=AQmqkzf0vh9-jh7L5qmop4xWHI2NwcMnXm8uA5G976ESYYYXygGfrwFaP1kjM7 THq28&_nc_ht=scontent.fzty1-1.fna&oh=ccee3aae9a1921bf60624848b275b17f&oe=5D80F5D7
https://scontent.fzty1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/66047383_748961302187535_6976220631914250240_o.jpg ?_nc_cat=101&_nc_oc=AQkC66_EYsKst0BtI4NR3L265dwCqE214ial0TZ4r0k 3fs2vFufVP22OHES7wx_ga6g&_nc_ht=scontent.fzty1-1.fna&oh=e1e13f1ceec5121d74a3df2cd8324451&oe=5DAE39AF

Thanks in advance for any and all help

[Clean39T]

Saw your pics on IG - looking great!

Unfortunately I have no tips to offer tho :/

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

[tuscanyswe]

Edit: oh nevermind thought you walking about the entire matte area. Dont know how to remove the grey stuff.

[Hilltopperny]

Maybe try some hot water and a few drops of dawn dish soap and plenty of elbow grease? I've always been pretty successful with that combo or maybe some WD40 brand bike wash? That stuff works pretty good on my gravel bike mess.

Very nice Justin!

Sent from my LGL423DL using Tapatalk

[David Kirk]

Are you sure that is a vinyl wrap? I would assume that it's paint and that the gray stuff left on the tubes is primer.

dave

[Ozz]

Are you sure that is a vinyl wrap? I would assume that it's paint and that the gray stuff left on the tubes is primer.

dave

didn't they "etch" the Ti tubes so the paint would stick better?

I know they used vinyl tape along the edges of the paint where the it transitions to bare Ti.....but yeah, never heard of Serotta using a vinyl wrap.

Maybe a green scotch brite pad could polish it up?

[R3awak3n]

yeah, there is no way they vinyl wrapped the cable holder right? If its vinyl wrap you would see a seam somewhere

[Bentley]

I sent my Legend to Ollie at Darkmagic, unbelievable what he did. He beadblasted the whole frame and then put the Serotta “decals” on by Ti anondization.... totally happy

[huck*this]

Are you sure that is a vinyl wrap? I would assume that it's paint and that the gray stuff left on the tubes is primer.

dave

Yes pretty sure it was Vinyl of some sort. Also the previous owner said it was also vinyl. The tubes are pretty much spotless just the HT needs more attention. I tried acetone and had no effect. If it is a primer do you have any suggestions on how to remove?

[duff_duffy]

Can you post pic? I might be in need of this service on a bike I picked up and like the idea.

I sent my Legend to Ollie at Darkmagic, unbelievable what he did. He beadblasted the whole frame and then put the Serotta “decals” on by Ti anondization.... totally happy

[ChainNoise]

Soak it in wd40. If wd40 gets into the bearings you will need to repack them with grease. Then use an old credit card to scrape off the remainder

[Brian Smith]

Yes pretty sure it was Vinyl of some sort. Also the previous owner said it was also vinyl. The tubes are pretty much spotless just the HT needs more attention. I tried acetone and had no effect. If it is a primer do you have any suggestions on how to remove?

Uh...well, as Dave suggested, that was paint, and the remaining grey is primer. If you managed to get it off to this level, you should be able to use the same means to remove the rest. Getting it out of the weld beads may be an issue. The question is what you'll do with it afterward. In order to prep the tubes for paint, they were media blasted, which leaves the rougher finish. While technically it was possible, it was not practical for the factory to take the media blasted tubes back to a polish-able state, and they never accepted such orders. Yes, it can be done, but the factory also always took the position that the resultant thinning of the tube walls endemic to such a process left them in an unknown strength condition. Warranty concerns don't apply, but the time and effort involved remain. Trying to polish the tubes where they were painted requires at least double the time over non-matte tubing.
The polished areas visible in the photos, particularly the top tube, show a decidedly non-factory polish level at this point. I'm not sure there's anyone to recommend if you're looking for a restoration-level polished refinish...what is your goal with it?

[huck*this]

Thanks for the confirmation Brian. I actually like the matte finish with the polished parts and plan to leave it that way. I just want to get all the primer off the HT. The contrasting between the matte and polished parts is actually really nice and not sure the pictures can capture that. I would like only a down tube Serotta decal in a polished finish and call it done. Is there an easier way to removing the primer than how I did it on the tubes? The HT is a tighter spot yielding my same efforts as removing the primer from the down tube and top tube useless. Although probably not totally useless. Just wondering if there is an easier way.

[Hindmost]

Just wondering if there is an easier way.

Aircraft paint stripper.

[Brian Smith]

Thanks for the confirmation Brian. I actually like the matte finish with the polished parts and plan to leave it that way. I just want to get all the primer off the HT. The contrasting between the matte and polished parts is actually really nice and not sure the pictures can capture that.

That's probably a reasonable and attractive goal, and it helps in an effort to advise.

I would like only a down tube Serotta decal in a polished finish and call it done.

I can understand why you'd want that, but since the matte finish is a process that is performed onto a polished tube, the reverse is not something you can just peel off of an adhesive backing and admire. :)
One would have to polish the decal area, including relevant nearby areas, apply a mask, then perform the media blasting operation. Easier than a complete polishing, but still not trivial.

Is there an easier way to removing the primer than how I did it on the tubes? The HT is a tighter spot yielding my same efforts as removing the primer from the down tube and top tube useless. Although probably not totally useless. Just wondering if there is an easier way.

Chemical means might be your friend here. Disassemble the bike, and you might regrease those King bearings while you're in there after the heat exposure. The strippers are nasty, will irritate skin, and may require a few applications to reach your desired outcome, but it should eventually work. Doing a set of matte chainstay logos would be less expensive than a set of down tube polished logos. Perhaps a muted top-mount down tube logo set would be both economical and sufficient? With a matching top-mount model name logo on the top tube and it could pass as a factory-like finish option.

[glepore]

As others have suggested, stripper. I'd prefer to remove the bearings and fork prior to working on the headset.

For the logo, why not get a set of vinyl decals cut out of mirror silver vinyl? I'd be around $40 or so, if you can id the font.

[huck*this]

Going to take Greg's above advice and use the stripper he recommended. This should pretty up everything.

I am now thinking of keep it naked. Meaning no decals except for the head tube badge. Then Bentley just sent me an email with his full bead blasted and Ano "decal" Serotta and it looks amazing. So may have to go that route. Anyways. May leave it up till the winter months to have the finish work done. Here is a shot from this mornings ride. In my eye. Looks so much better "naked".

https://scontent.fzty1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/66354578_749961302087535_6435000391217184768_o.jpg ?_nc_cat=102&_nc_oc=AQknJV9fEMWf9URwfWuG3wk17WqXolWg-qpIJ2bPRXFrW36nVxhVk2CR89gjdRUDZOg&_nc_ht=scontent.fzty1-2.fna&oh=7db5d39d1f61c07a0a4cb2bf70cfce6d&oe=5DBDD7E9

[Hindmost]

Wear good rubber gloves and work in a well-ventilated area, you're stripping a small area, the major stuff is gone so it's easier to manage. Yes, disassemble first. Stripper shouldn't touch the anodized cups but remove them if you can.