Anyone here shellac their bar tape?

dirttorpedo · Dec 8, 2014

I've bought some red cotton tape for my Bianchi. I'm toying with the idea of applying some clear varnish to it - heard its good for rainy climates like where I live. Anyone done it? Is it a good idea or better left alone?

stringfellow1946 · Dec 9, 2014

Re: Anyone here varnish their bar tape?

Absolutely brilliant idea, for NOT being able to grip the bars, especially in the wet.

Johnsqual · Dec 9, 2014

Re:

Never tried it myself, but apparently French bike builders used to put shellac
dissolved in alcohol on cloth bar tape. Apparently, if you don't use too much it will give a grippy, slightly rough surface. See here for a guide:

http://velo-orange.blogspot.be/2009/01/ ... guide.html

Johnny

Ian Raleigh · Dec 9, 2014

Re: Anyone here varnish their bar tape?

First I've heard of glossing cotton tape! Why would you want to ?

t47b · Dec 9, 2014

Re:

That Spray on waterproofing stuff for coats to keep the water out?

Edit: ignore that, wadda I know about rain

dirttorpedo · Dec 9, 2014

Re:

Shellac - that's what I meant! Thanks for the link John.

OldTel · Dec 9, 2014

Re:

Hi, I did my french bike this year, https://www.flickr.com/photos/tk_photos ... 8660435149 white cloth handlebar tape, and about 5 layers of meths and shellac, didn't overdo the shellac ( only has a short shelf life so be careful ), as I didn't want it too bright. It feels okay and looks the part. Terry

dirttorpedo · Dec 9, 2014

Re:

OldTel":et90hgg2 said:
Hi, I did my french bike this year, https://www.flickr.com/photos/tk_photos ... 8660435149 white cloth handlebar tape, and about 5 layers of meths and shellac, didn't overdo the shellac ( only has a short shelf life so be careful ), as I didn't want it too bright. It feels okay and looks the part. Terry

Nice. How many coats was that and do you find it slippery?

OldTel · Dec 9, 2014

Re:

It was fine, 5 coats and even after a couple of weeks it felt a touch sticky ( just an awareness of it not really sticky ) to start with ( a thin mixture ), it seems to wear in alright with use. Terry

Martin Rattler · Dec 9, 2014

Re:

I did this with both my RO Harrison and my Gillot Continental using undiluted button polish straight from the bottle; which must be 25 years old. It dried out overnight and I think it should be OK in the rain as it is soluble in meths rather than water, so as long as you don't spill your gin on it you should be OK. The red tape on the ROH darkened down to a reddish brown while the blue on the Gillot went a sort of purpley brown that goes nicely with the flam purple frame. I thought that this was preferable to the tape getting tatty and dirty as it wears but time will tell. I whipped the ends of the bars with twine as well to finish it off neatly.

There are some pics here:

viewtopic.php?f=23&t=294453&hilit=gillott+continental&start=10

viewtopic.php?f=23&t=291695&p=2192270&hilit=ro+harrison#p2192270

Anyone here shellac their bar tape?

dirttorpedo

Senior Retro Guru

stringfellow1946

Senior Retro Guru

Johnsqual

Senior Retro Guru

Ian Raleigh

t47b

dirttorpedo

Senior Retro Guru

OldTel

dirttorpedo

Senior Retro Guru

OldTel

Martin Rattler

Retro Guru

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