What do you use to protect your stainless frame after cleaning?

NHAero · #1 10-10-2016, 10:32 AM

I've heard Lemon Pledge, Boeshield T9, Finishline Polish, Magic Stainless Steel Cleaner and Polish....

David Kirk · #2 10-10-2016, 11:34 AM

Boesheid.

dave

tigoat · #3 10-10-2016, 01:18 PM

Nothing. The whole purpose of having a stainless frame would be to have that raw stainless metal finish, that's the beauty of it. I would clean it regularly with those compatible cleaners mentioned to keep it clean and bright but nothing else is needed post cleaning.

Schmed · #4 10-10-2016, 01:49 PM

Interestingly (to me, anyway), to protect stainless steel from corrosion, you can passivate it with nitric acid.

Also intersting (to me, again), is that salt water will corrode stainless steel.

Cicli · #5 10-10-2016, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schmed

Also intersting (to me, again), is that salt water will corrode stainless steel.

Depends on the grade of stainless. Some more than others.

sonicCows · #6 10-10-2016, 01:57 PM

Anyone here ride a stainless steel frame on salty New England winter roads? Would be interested in your bike maintenance and what you do to preserve longevity

Schmed · #7 10-10-2016, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cicli

Depends on the grade of stainless. Some more than others.

Yes - if you can make one out of 904 stainless (by melting down a bag of Rolexes, perhaps), that's more resistant!

SoCalSteve · #8 10-10-2016, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schmed

Yes - if you can make one out of 904 stainless (by melting down a bag of Rolexes, perhaps), that's more resistant!

That's the bike I want!!!

Cicli · #9 10-10-2016, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoCalSteve

That's the bike I want!!!

With no shifter cable stops.

Ralph · #10 10-10-2016, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sonicCows

Anyone here ride a stainless steel frame on salty New England winter roads? Would be interested in your bike maintenance and what you do to preserve longevity

I would probably wipe that down with WD40. I had a chrome Schwinn Paramount years ago.....was told to wipe down with light oil or something like WD40.

bicycletricycle · #11 10-10-2016, 04:42 PM

i have been thinking of changing up my daily commuter bicycle and have been considering stainless or titanium.

I wonder if many people have been riding modern stainless bicycles year round on salty garbage roads.

I have a polished KVA stainless chainstay on my commuter and it gets coated in grime and salt and crap all winter and always cleans up with a rag back to polished each spring (3 winters so far)

I assume a whole frame of the stuff would do the same. Perhaps the areas around the joints may be slightly less corrosion resistant from the heat of joining. Especially if TIG welded.

As far as the original question goes, I have protected stainless furniture projects with a couple different types furniture waxes, mostly to just keep them from fingerprinting as quickly.

Louis · #12 10-10-2016, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schmed

Also intersting (to me, again), is that salt water will corrode stainless steel.

As pointed out by a buddy of mine at work, it's called "stain LESS," not "never ever, ever stain."

bikinchris · #13 10-10-2016, 08:24 PM

Wax it.

trentschler · #14 10-11-2016, 01:25 PM

I use a cleaner and polisher I got at the grocery store. You don't really need to protect stainless other than keeping it clean. I rode for years on salted NYC Central Park and NJ roads with no ill effects. I think stuff like WD40 and so on will just attract grime. The aluminum rims and components will corrode before the steel.

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