I have a titanium frame which has some scratches and rub marks, mostly superficial. I would like to try to get rid of these scratches. By reading the archives I have learned that you can use Scotchbrite pads and rub the finish until it looks like a brushed finish. I still have a couple of questions.
First, I dont know what finish my frame is for sure. I know its not bright, could be brushed of blasted. Is there any way to tell for sure? The frame is a Litespeed Ti-Phoon 2004 model. Does this even matter?
Secondly,how good does this end up looking? I don't want to end up with a piece of junk. Does this look professional.
I have read that you should use the red pads is this correct? Any ideas on where to get them? Supermarket?
If anyone has any reccomendations shy of sending it back to Litespeed for the $500.00 refinishing I would love to hear them.
I have a titanium frame which has some scratches and rub marks, mostly superficial. I would like to try to get rid of these scratches. By reading the archives I have learned that you can use Scotchbrite pads and rub the finish until it looks like a brushed finish. I still have a couple of questions.
First, I dont know what finish my frame is for sure. I know its not bright, could be brushed of blasted. Is there any way to tell for sure? The frame is a Litespeed Ti-Phoon 2004 model. Does this even matter?
Secondly,how good does this end up looking? I don't want to end up with a piece of junk. Does this look professional.
I have read that you should use the red pads is this correct? Any ideas on where to get them? Supermarket?
I use the Green Pads on my litespeed MTB and my Ti road bike. The finish looks great! Always rub the pad in the same direction, I usually rub perpendicular to the tube. It does not take much to get a good brushed finish.
I bought the pads at Target for ~$1.50. Might as well buy some and try it on some hidden area of the frame - back of BB shell?
In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...
Quoted message said:
I have a titanium frame which has some scratches and rub marks, mostly superficial. I would like to try to get rid of these scratches. By reading the archives I have learned that you can use Scotchbrite pads and rub the finish until it looks like a brushed finish. I still have a couple of questions.
First, I dont know what finish my frame is for sure. I know its not bright, could be brushed of blasted. Is there any way to tell for sure? The frame is a Litespeed Ti-Phoon 2004 model. Does this even matter?
Secondly,how good does this end up looking? I don't want to end up with a piece of junk. Does this look professional.
I have read that you should use the red pads is this correct? Any ideas on where to get them? Supermarket?
If anyone has any reccomendations shy of sending it back to Litespeed for the $500.00 refinishing I would love to hear them.
Call litespeed and ask them what you can do. They would be the experts on the subject. If it was my bike, I would sctochbrite it. ------------- Alex
I have a titanium frame which has some scratches and rub marks, mostly superficial. I would like to try to get rid of these scratches. By reading the archives I have learned that you can use Scotchbrite pads and rub the finish until it looks like a brushed finish. I still have a couple of questions.
First, I dont know what finish my frame is for sure. I know its not bright, could be brushed of blasted. Is there any way to tell for sure? The frame is a Litespeed Ti-Phoon 2004 model. Does this even matter?
Secondly,how good does this end up looking? I don't want to end up with a piece of junk. Does this look professional.
I have read that you should use the red pads is this correct? Any ideas on where to get them? Supermarket?
If anyone has any reccomendations shy of sending it back to Litespeed for the $500.00 refinishing I would love to hear them.
I have a titanium frame which has some scratches and rub marks, mostly superficial. I would like to try to get rid of these scratches. By reading the archives I have learned that you can use Scotchbrite pads and rub the finish until it looks like a brushed finish. I still have a couple of questions.
First, I dont know what finish my frame is for sure. I know its not bright, could be brushed of blasted. Is there any way to tell for sure? The frame is a Litespeed Ti-Phoon 2004 model. Does this even matter?
Secondly,how good does this end up looking? I don't want to end up with a piece of junk. Does this look professional.
I have read that you should use the red pads is this correct? Any ideas on where to get them? Supermarket?
If anyone has any reccomendations shy of sending it back to Litespeed for the $500.00 refinishing I would love to hear them.
I was hoping someone would post a photo of a brushed frame. It sounds like the OP's frame is probably bead-blasted. The only really thorough way to refinish a BB frame is to totally strip it down and blast it again (hence, the $500 quote). That's also why I have never sold BB frames (which can save a few bucks up front, but at the cost of having the same kind of maintenance issues as a painted frame).
"Mark Hickey" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Llatikcuf said:
Chris Dorn said:
I have a titanium frame which has some scratches and rub marks, mostly superficial. I would like to try to get rid of these scratches. By reading the archives I have learned that you can use Scotchbrite pads and rub the finish until it looks like a brushed finish. I still have a couple of questions.
First, I dont know what finish my frame is for sure. I know its not bright, could be brushed of blasted. Is there any way to tell for sure? The frame is a Litespeed Ti-Phoon 2004 model. Does this even matter?
Secondly,how good does this end up looking? I don't want to end up with a piece of junk. Does this look professional.
I have read that you should use the red pads is this correct? Any ideas on where to get them? Supermarket?
If anyone has any reccomendations shy of sending it back to Litespeed for the $500.00 refinishing I would love to hear them.
I was hoping someone would post a photo of a brushed frame. It sounds like the OP's frame is probably bead-blasted. The only really thorough way to refinish a BB frame is to totally strip it down and blast it again (hence, the $500 quote). That's also why I have never sold BB frames (which can save a few bucks up front, but at the cost of having the same kind of maintenance issues as a painted frame).
Say it ain't so Mark--you raised your prices! Still, even at $795 your frame is a bargain. 2000+ miles and it rides like a dream. Haven't had to scotchbrite it yet although it has developed some wear marks due to housing rub and such, and of course scratches from road debris, but I think the brushed finish makes this less important than it would on other kinds of finishes. Good call on your part, good decision on mine. ;-)
Secondly,how good does this end up looking? I don't want to end up with a piece of junk. Does this look professional.
I bought a used Ti frame a few months ago and refinished it with 200 grit sandpaper. I don't know for sure if it was blasted or brushed, but it was pretty dull. Looks nice now. I wipe some Pledge on it every once in awhile, and it looks as good as when I did it.
I tried Scotchbrite at first, but it seemed like it would take forever. I cut the sandpaper into thin strips and polished by pulling the strip back and forth across the tube, with it wrapped most of the way around. Places that are hard to get to have to be done differently; use a light touch and try to match the same direction as the other brush marks (around the tube, not lengthwise).
It still took 6 hrs or so, but I'm happy with the results. It's hard to get it looking perfect in the corners and where the tubes meet, but it looks fine to me.
I was hoping someone would post a photo of a brushed frame. It sounds like the OP's frame is probably bead-blasted. The only really thorough way to refinish a BB frame is to totally strip it down and blast it again (hence, the $500 quote). That's also why I have never sold BB frames (which can save a few bucks up front, but at the cost of having the same kind of maintenance issues as a painted frame).
'Fraid so - I held out as long as I could, but a recent (and significant!) material price increase pushed it over the edge. Sigh...
Quoted message said:
Still, even at $795 your frame is a bargain. 2000+ miles and it rides like a dream. Haven't had to scotchbrite it yet although it has developed some wear marks due to housing rub and such, and of course scratches from road debris, but I think the brushed finish makes this less important than it would on other kinds of finishes. Good call on your part, good decision on mine. ;-)
You're going to be amazed at how little effort it takes to get rid of those cable rub marks. Just a few swipes with the ScotchBrite pad and/or 400 grit sandpaper and they'll just disappear. It's almost spooky. I swear I could never own a painted bike again - I've forgotten how to worry about dinging my bikes. ;-)
I was hoping someone would post a photo of a brushed frame. It sounds like the OP's frame is probably bead-blasted. The only really thorough way to refinish a BB frame is to totally strip it down and blast it again (hence, the $500 quote). That's also why I have never sold BB frames (which can save a few bucks up front, but at the cost of having the same kind of maintenance issues as a painted frame).
'Fraid so - I held out as long as I could, but a recent (and significant!) material price increase pushed it over the edge. Sigh...
Quoted message said:
Still, even at $795 your frame is a bargain. 2000+ miles and it rides like a dream. Haven't had to scotchbrite it yet although it has developed some wear marks due to housing rub and such, and of course scratches from road debris, but I think the brushed finish makes this less important than it would on other kinds of finishes. Good call on your part, good decision on mine. ;-)
You're going to be amazed at how little effort it takes to get rid of those cable rub marks. Just a few swipes with the ScotchBrite pad and/or 400 grit sandpaper and they'll just disappear. It's almost spooky. I swear I could never own a painted bike again - I've forgotten how to worry about dinging my bikes. ;-)
Mark my three Ti bikes are still unpainted, however I recently bought a painted aluminium Time Trial bike (Felt) cheap on eBay. When I got my first paint chip it was almost like a flesh wound to myself. Titanium just makes life so much easier.
