brett jerk

yo its starting to get snowy and the paint on my bike is chipped in a ton of places. snow in my area means a ton of salt.
I'm considering throwing a whole lot of electrical tape on my bike in order to help prevent rusting (i figure no salt/water on the frame would be sweet). Ideally I'd repaint it, but it's too cold and I don't have access to anywhere to let it dry, so I figure the electrical tape will keep it fresh (its a vintage frame) until spring comes and i can do a quality paint job (i used rustoleum and it looked really sweet for a while but now it's falling apart).

would this work/help? or would it still rust underneath?

br995

Of course it will help, but you won't cover EVERYTHING or keep moisture from getting inside the tubing. Still better than nothing.

monsterkidz

I'd make sure to treat the inside of your frame with some framesaver. Be sure to clean the salt off of your bike as quickly as you can after riding out in the elements. As far the tape goes, I'm not sure if it will do much.

jmichaeldesign

The issue is if any moisture gets under the tape then it's there for good and it's going to wreak havoc. I'd suggest a nice thick coat of automotive wax.

1fluffhead

I prefer cut up tubes. Cut out the valve stem, then cut them lenghtwise and you will have a nice piece of rubber that will protect your frame from dings. Secure either end with black electrical tape. Go to LBS for tubes that are not repairable due to whatever reason. May get some water protection from this method, but this is more for protecting what paint you have left.

bonechilling

Taping an already chipped frame to prevent rusting makes no sense, since as other have pointed out, you're just going to be keeping the moisture trapped on the frame, making the rust worse.

teiaperigosa

hipsters use electrical tape...

riders use inner tube...

brett jerk

i don't care about the paint, I'm just trying to preserve the frame
I guess I just assumed the tape would keep water out, but I guess it's possible some would get under there
the waxing sounds like a good idea, as I'm trying to keep this as cheap as possible

mconlonx

I just bought a bianchi volpe frame with tape on it. Stripped the tape off and found the downtube rusted almost in half underneath... frame's going back to get swapped out for another one. But it made me think twice about taping a frame. Wax will help. If you already have rust and don't care about the looks, maybe some rust-inhibitor/reversal spraypaint. If you're serious, truck bed liner...

icknayvon

I can't imagine that waxing would cost that much more than taping. The other option is the steel to aluminum conversion kit. This would solve all of your problems!

D(C)

re: framesaver, how is the application done? Where do you get into the frame from?

bonechilling

The headset and seatpost. Just buy it, it has application instructions inside.

Romoni_63

humm. Why not try 3M Splice tape. cause elec. tape is just too thin and tube are just obsurd
-G

fender1

cover the frame in 10w-30 motor oil and let sit overnight. Then wipe off excess. The dirt that clings to the bike will simultaneously protect the paint and seal out moisture.

mykrrrr

Leave the bike in the house and take the bus.

I heard public transport is the new track bike.

teiaperigosa

tube are just obsurd???? FOHWTS

3M splice tape? FOHWTS

listen you want to keep the elements out, use inner tube...as someone said above...cut out the valves, then slice lengthways...wrap the inner side of the inner tube so that it contacts your frame...wrap tight...I tuck ends (tie them) and tape them...just taping may work...

tried, tested, proven

end of story

brett jerk

sorry if I was unclear, I meant waxing would work, because it's still cheap (although I already have tape and don't have wax around).

Romoni_63

what the **** does FOHWTS mean

3M Slice tape is also tried, tested, and proven by me to seal and protect without the sticky of tape and
bulk of the inner tube sweetheart

D(C)

Other way around...

JeffS

If you're going to repaint it anyway I don't see the point. Tape is just going to hold in any moisture and make things worse.

If you're trying to prevent frame damage from rust, just clean any rust already in the nicks, and put some touchup paint there. Surely you have a place you could accomplish that.

raster

It means look it up on the internet it took me eight seconds.

Zombie Carl

**** yeah. Rhino Liner would be awesome.

teiaperigosa

right. keep using your tape then...lol

Igneous Faction

So you want to stop, I mean really STOP corrosion on your bike?

Here's how I'd do it:

1. Strip it down to the bare metal.
2. Apply a liberal coat of POR-15 to all surfaces.
3. Framesaver the hell out of the inside of the frame.
4. Automotive primer.
5. Color paint of your choice.
6. Automotive wax.
7. Clean it every single time it rides dirty and keep the wax coat maintained.

Personally, I don't worry about this kind of ****. My bike's dented and rusting, but it still rides.

Zombie Carl

I doubt my frame will rust up any time soon, because I'm pretty good at keeping it maintained. But when it does, I'll be stoked because I'll have a great excuse to buy a better frame...