Hey everyone! I would love it if you guys could help me, I’m 15 and I have this old road bike hanging around. I want to remove the paint and polish it. What do I need for polishing? Would a simple drill suffice? Also do I need to clearcoat it? And if I don’t will the Aluminium turn dull? If it turns out to look really good I might try it on my Canyon Torque from 2011. Keep in mind I’n 15 and I am currently working on saving up for a brand new bike, But it’ll be more than a year untill I have enough money saved up for that bike. So please keep in mind that my budget is kinda thight.
Do you guys have any tips for me? And maybe give your opinion?
Sorry for my bad English, I’m from The Netherlands and English is not my first language
Hey everyone! I would love it if you guys could help me, I’m 15 and I have this old road bike hanging around. I want to remove the paint and polish it. What do I need for polishing? Would a simple drill suffice? Also do I need to clearcoat it? And if I don’t will the Aluminium turn dull? If it turns out to look really good I might try it on my Canyon Torque from 2011. Keep in mind I’n 15 and I am currently working on saving up for a brand new bike, But it’ll be more than a year untill I have enough money saved up for that bike. So please keep in mind that my budget is kinda thight.
Do you guys have any tips for me? And maybe give your opinion?
Sorry for my bad English, I’m from The Netherlands and English is not my first language
Thanks alot!
Your English is perfect. No need to apologize.
Depending on your frame finish, you can start off with a chemical strip (for spray and powder coat). If it's anodized, you have no choice but to sand it down. Even if your frame was painted, you will still need to sand it down. The level of shine/polish will depend on how fine your sandpaper is. People usually start off with a coarse sand... about 320 grit, to 400, to 600, to 1000, up to 2000 grit. I usually stop at 1000 (I don't care if it's not a mirror finish).
If you have access to a buffing wheel, use that before the final polish using metal polish.
You don't clear coat... the paint will just peel off. You just maintain by polishing periodically.
It oxidizes, which you'll want to avoid regardless.
Yeah...no. Aluminum is reactive and will react spontaneously with water and/or air to form aluminum oxide. Aluminum oxide, Al2O3, forms a stable passive layer that protects aluminum from corrosion or further oxidation. This layer is about 4 nm thick and will provide corrosion protection as long as this oxide layer is stable. Same goes with the anodizing, it's colored oxide layer.
No need to care for the bare aluminum, it can take car of itself.
It oxidizes, which you'll want to avoid regardless.
Yeah...no. Aluminum is reactive and will react spontaneously with water and/or air to form aluminum oxide. Aluminum oxide, Al2O3, forms a stable passive layer that protects aluminum from corrosion or further oxidation. This layer is about 4 nm thick and will provide corrosion protection as long as this oxide layer is stable. Same goes with the anodizing, it's colored oxide layer.
No need to care for the bare aluminum, it can take car of itself.
No what?
It does oxidize, some people don't like how that looks so they apply a treatment in order to prevent it. That's what he's done.
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the crowns and lowers look awesome!!! Have you thought about replacing the stanchions with the black ones? Would look unreal 
