Raw Aluminium Frame. Does it need lacquering?

Barneyballbags

Barneyballbags

Old School Grand Master
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I'm thinking about stripping the paint off an aluminium frame, and re-stickering it with the raw finish.

I realise that aluminium oxidises and dulls, but do I need to lacquer it, or can I leave it "as is", as I quite like the look :oops:

Cheers
 
IIRC the oxidised layer protects the tubes so you should be ok. But someone will be along in a minute to tell me otherwise no doubt :)
 
You'll be fine just leaving it. My other half's Chameleon was painted and stripped some time ago and had gone really dull when I got hold of it. I've since polished it up with some Autoglym and the finish was ace.

However, it doesn't take long to dull again. A quick rub with some Autoglym and it looks good again.

My old Cannondale is rawed, and its the same goes a bit dull but polishes up nicely.
 
Cool, thanks for the info.

The frame is a 2005/2006 Cove Hustler. I think it'll look spot on with a raw finish - Cove weren't known for their hard wearing paint jobs!
 
Is this replacing the 4 Banger? I like Cove, they make some cracking bikes, but the paint is pesh.

I always (still do) wanted a Stiffee but never got round to buying one. Last time I was in a position to buy one I bought a Chameleon instead which was a cracking bike.
 
Rub Pantene shampoo all over it. It has loads of silicone in it which coats the metal. Works on my pal's Ducati... :shock:
 
My new Spooky Bandwagon has been raw for a year now and is absolutely fine. I panicked when this know-all East London trendy type told me it needed to be painted otherwise it would deteriorate. Turned out he owned a spray shop. All the advice I can find says raw al is fine.
 
I might try the shampoo thing on the other half's Chameleon ecause the decals being bare seem.quite delicate and I don't want to have to break out the Autosol anytime soon.
 
the question is somewhat invalid since the bike frame will not be made from raw aluminium but some aluminium alloy.

won't pretend i know what the answer is but from my experience, different alloy components behave differently, some tarnish and corrode quite badly, others don't.

try it and see, if the surface deteriorates, then a laquer was the answer.
 
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