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thin plastic film on my steel frame

Old 07-22-08, 07:09 AM
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thin plastic film on my steel frame

When I was cleaning my bike this weekend (a 2001 Jamis Quest), I noticed that there seems to be a thin plastic film that is peeling off the frame in places. What is that? Should I be worried that it's coming off?
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Old 07-22-08, 10:59 AM
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Can you say 'clear paint' ? The clear paint is what makes paint jobs shine today.
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My preferred bicycle brand is.......WORKSMAN CYCLES
I dislike clipless pedals on any city bike since I feel they are unsafe.

Originally Posted by krazygluon
Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred, which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?
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Old 07-22-08, 11:58 AM
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OK, thanks. Is the paint purely cosmetic or does it provide some protection against rust, etc.? And would it make sense for there to be a layer of clear paint on a basically unpainted bike like mine (see below)?

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Old 07-23-08, 06:20 PM
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Can we say....pretty bike.

Yes the clear coat over polished aluminium will keep it from tarnishing and dulling. Most of your polished aluminium components you have are clear coated (clear paint).
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Old 07-23-08, 07:50 PM
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Curious question though. Was it on the rear chainstays? My Trek has clear plastic film on the rear chainstays, I'm assuming to protect the paint if the chain slaps it. I can see a couple places where it would have been nice to have it where cables rub. The film is almost invisible, same type as the 3M they use for clear bras on the fronts of cars.

-Roger
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Old 07-23-08, 09:53 PM
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You can buy rolls of it from an automotive paint supply film. It's called ScotchCal Paint Protection Film.

It's what they make "clear bras" for cars out of. Made by 3M.
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Old 07-23-08, 10:28 PM
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If it's coming off the areas where the labels are it may be the backing that is often left on to protect the labels during shipment. Sort of like the thin cling plastic often seen on shiney plastic front panels of stereo equipement and cel phone screens when they are first new.
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Old 07-24-08, 06:40 AM
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To answer a prior question, I was noticing it not on the rear chain stays, but on the top tube. I suppose at least some of it was around where the "Quest" label was, but I don't think it was just the label backing. And, FWIW, it's not an aluminum frame, but steel.

Thanks for all the input! I'm not going to worry about it.
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Old 07-24-08, 07:48 AM
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Your clear coat is peeling.

Several bike companies clear coat their steel frames without other paint. On color bikes, the best paint jobs are sprayed with color first, then decals applied, then a clear coat over everything. Yours looks polished but some leave the raw steel/welds for a really cool effect. Actually I think Rivendell offers this. I was looking at a Milwaukee Bicycle Co. frame from Ben's Cycle not long ago and inquired about clear coating the frame rather than painting it and this is the response I got...

Hello,

We tried, and the clearcoat is just not durable enough......the frame will
still rust underneath the clearcoat. They need to be painted.

If you have any more questions, feel free to email.
I don't know if they just use a crappy painter or if that's just the way it is, but either way, without some kind of paint/clear protection, your frame will rust.

EDIT: It's also possible that they used some kind of chrome paint.... i would think getting steel to a mirror polish like that would be cost prohibitive for Jamis. So you may be ok. As long as something is between the steel and the elements.
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