restoring the finish on a ti frame

[cnighbor1]

Restoring the finish on a Ti frame
Has any Serotta member successfully restored the finish on a Ti frame back to original non-polished finish. And how was it done
Here is an excellent Davidson Ti frame that would look great if the original finish restored to new?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Davidson-Bi...cAAOSwZL5dqhHm

Thanks
Charles

[elliott]

If it is a brushed finish like Seven does; a red scotch brite pad(7447) and a couple minutes will make a scratched Ti frame look like new. If media blasted finish like Moots, best to send it back for a refinish.

[fmradio516]

Originally Posted by cnighbor1

Restoring the finish on a Ti frame
Has any Serotta member successfully restored the finish on a Ti frame back to original non-polished finish. And how was it done
Here is an excellent Davidson Ti frame that would look great if the original finish restored to new?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Davidson-Bi...cAAOSwZL5dqhHm

Thanks
Charles

I did it recently with advice from another forum member. Basics is remove decals(acetone), clean frame thoroughly with isopropyl alcohol, dry, then with LIGHT pressure, use the red scotch brite pads in the direction of the grain. Plenty of videos on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EaJqiUdmiA8

[Dino Suegiù]

Originally Posted by cnighbor1

Restoring the finish on a Ti frame
Has any Serotta member successfully restored the finish on a Ti frame back to original non-polished finish. And how was it done
Here is an excellent Davidson Ti frame that would look great if the original finish restored to new?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Davidson-Bi...cAAOSwZL5dqhHm

Thanks
Charles

Is that Davidson polished? It is difficult to tell from the photographs/lighting.
But since you asked for non-polished, as others wrote above:

Original finish bead-blasted or sand-blasted:
Small areas (max ~ 3cm x 3cm) can be fairly well-matched with the brushed method below, but for large areas it is better/easier just to bead-blast the frame again. (Bead-blast media varies greatly, so it may be hard to even match finishes by bead-blasting only parts of the frame, plus...no price break anyway.)

Original finish brushed:
Mask off the decals (or remove the decals with ScotchBrite, or acetone and a credit card or similar scraper edge).
Clean off the acetone residue with alcohol.
De-grease the entire frame with Dawn dish detergent or any other similar good de-greaser.
Brush with Red (dark brown) ScotchBrite pads (never use non-stainless steel wool, etc.).
Follow the grain if the original brushed finish is linear or in circular motions if circular/more random.
Clean again thoroughly with Dawn.
Dry completely.
Finish with Pledge furniture polish and good clean cloths.

The video fmradio516 posted above is well-done, for brushed frames.

[purpurite]

I turned a very neglected GT Xizang that had a ball burnished finish into a brushed finish with green ScotchBrite strips, rolled over the tubes like a shoe shine. I used WD40 as a lube on the ScotchBrite, too. I think it was a beautiful result.

Before:





After:

[Dino Suegiù]

Originally Posted by upon3

I turned a very neglected GT Xizang that had a ball burnished finish into a brushed finish with green ScotchBrite strips, rolled over the tubes like a shoe shine. I used WD40 as a lube on the ScotchBrite, too. I think it was a beautiful result.

Excellent, that looks great. You did a fantastic job.

Did you follow the green ScotchBrite with smoother red or even grey, or just used the green?

[purpurite]

I had a few small pieces of grey, but no red in the shop at the time. That would have been mostly green to get the burnished finish knocked down, and possibly some of the grey as a light last step. It was more than a few years ago, so my memory isn't perfect as to the exact process.

The best thing about ti, though, is that you really can't screw it up. Keep trying different techniques until you get it where you want it. You aren't going to do any damage at all.

[jmeloy]

Yo gang, how do you tell which direction the grain runs?


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[cmbicycles]

Originally Posted by jmeloy

Yo gang, how do you tell which direction the grain runs?


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99.9% of the time, around the circumference of the tube. This is why longer strips of scotchbrite are helpful.

[Dino Suegiù]

Originally Posted by jmeloy

Yo gang, how do you tell which direction the grain runs?


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If the frame has indeed been brushed, the grain direction will be very evident as seen in the "after" photos upon3 posted above.

[one60]

makes a great winter project

[jmeloy]

Originally Posted by Dino Suegiù

If the frame has indeed been brushed, the grain direction will be very evident as seen in the "after" photos upon3 posted above.

Thanks gang, perfect example!


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