Bicycle Mechanics - Old Raleigh Ti frame

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Reynolds
09-28-12, 10:44 AM
A friend was offered a '90s Raleigh MTB titanium frame at a great price. However, it appears to have been sandblasted, has a "porous" texture to it. Would this affect the frame's integrity? Could it be sanded and polished to get a nicer finish?

Drew Eckhardt
09-28-12, 12:47 PM
A friend was offered a '90s Raleigh MTB titanium frame at a great price. However, it appears to have been sandblasted, has a "porous" texture to it. Would this affect the frame's integrity? Could it be sanded and polished to get a nicer finish?

It's bead blasted which took less labor than a brushed finish but means touching up wear spots (things like cable housings will polish spots in the finish) is not a DIY operation as with a brushed finish.

You can use a Scotchbrite (pretty much synthetic steel wool) pad to get a brushed finish and go farther (Litespeed sold some fully polished frames) if you want.

I have a titanium frame (bead blasted), lock (brushed), and seat post (polished)


275345
dsbrantjr
09-28-12, 01:05 PM
It could certainly be polished. How much time/patience have you got?

cs1
09-29-12, 08:08 AM
I guess the question should be is it really aluminum or titanium? Once the bead blast the frame the decals are gone. Be careful
Reynolds
09-29-12, 10:07 PM
I guess the question should be is it really aluminum or titanium? Once the bead blast the frame the decals are gone. Be careful

I suppose aluminum is quite different from titanium in hardness, color, etc? Raleigh sourced this Ti from Russia I've been told, is it different from other Ti?
zukahn1
09-29-12, 11:20 PM
If its a Raliegh frame from the early 90's it is hard Aluminium or maganese light steel in either case moderate light sandblasting shouldn't effect integrity if done well it should polish or paint up nice.
HillRider
09-30-12, 08:15 AM
I suppose aluminum is quite different from titanium in hardness, color, etc? Raleigh sourced this Ti from Russia I've been told, is it different from other Ti?
Many Russian Ti bike frames were made with "CP" grade Titanium which is both weaker and less fatigue resistant than the 3/2.5 Al/V grade Titanium used by most good makers. It's adequately functional and just as corrosion resistant as the better grade Ti but not worth a premium price. There were also some issues with weld purity and integrity on many of these frames so watch the welds for cracks.