How to Refinish Titanium?
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 67
Likes: 0
How to Refinish Titanium?
Hi,
I have a Campagnolo Chorus titanium seatpost with those scratches you get from wrestling the post out of a tight frame. The scratches ar deep enough to feel. Can anyone recommend a method for refinishing?
Thanks
I have a Campagnolo Chorus titanium seatpost with those scratches you get from wrestling the post out of a tight frame. The scratches ar deep enough to feel. Can anyone recommend a method for refinishing?
Thanks
#2
You can polish out the scratches if they're not too deep. Just remember that the more you polish, the looser the post will fit. I've done a few aluminum posts using finer and finer grades of emery paper and finishing by polishing with a wheel and rouge. I start with about 240 paper on aluminum. A pad sander speeds up the job. Fine steel wool works well on aluminum, but it may be too soft for titanium. I haven't tried it. Titanium polishes beautifully, but it takes longer because it's so hard.
This may help:
https://www.caswellplating.com/buffs/buffman.htm
This may help:
https://www.caswellplating.com/buffs/buffman.htm
#3
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,359
Likes: 2
From: Ruidoso, NM
I don't know what kind of finish it has now, but you may want to go to a "brushed" finish... much easier to care for than a mirror polish, and looks good... also hides scratches well. I've done an entire frame this way with 200 grit sandpaper. Cut the sandpaper (or emory cloth) into thin strips and sand around the circumference of the tube... should take very little time at all.
#4
Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 26
Likes: 1
Bikes: frame- custom TiTerra Ti-M19, fork titanium PAS, wheels 29
You can do satin finish using 3M Scotch Brite Abrasive hand pads (solutions.3m.com). Very easy, takes from 5 to 10 minutes. I think that is best you can do to refinish titanium surface. Good luck.
#6
barnfullagts
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 623
Likes: 3
From: WI
Bikes: GT BI Ti/BI Steel - Edge Ti and Steel Xizang Ti and Psyclone Steel
I have apolished Ti frame and I use Mothers aluminum polish and Nevrdull to keep my frame looking like chrome. The Mothers is a little more agressive/abrasive than the Nevrdull. I start with Mothers and finish with Neverdull. Purchasing the two will run you about ten bucks. Check it out, the finished product is very nice if you're after polished Ti.
https://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.ph...19696#poststop
https://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.ph...19696#poststop
Last edited by gm1230126; 02-10-06 at 07:23 PM.
#7
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 60
Likes: 6
From: Rocky Mountains of NW Colorado
Bikes: Fatback Corvus 1X12 (27.5X 2.8" & winter 26X 4.6"), Merlin Agilis 1X11
How to re-brush your Titanium bike frame with Vaaru Cycles (youtube search title)
Thread is old and been awhile since anyone has posted but based on the 3 year old video mentioned above I "renewed" an old, brushed Ti surface, Merlin frame w/ burgundy colored Scotch brite in under 30 mins (after using a hairdryer and gently removing the old stickers with a single edge razor blade...Believe, I'm going to leave off any new OEM Merlin stickers and leave it bare other than the badge on the steerer tube).
#8
Senior Member

Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 3,396
Likes: 4,887
From: se MIch.
Bikes: 1938 claud butler,1983 Basso,teledyne titan,teocali super,nrs,1993 stumpjumper fsr,Paramountain,Paramount Buell(sold),4 banger,Zaskar LE,Colnago Master Ibex MTB,1987ish,.etc....
polishing.
if you know of anyone with a lathe you can refinish easily by running a fine emery cloth up-down the post.
#9
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 60
Likes: 6
From: Rocky Mountains of NW Colorado
Bikes: Fatback Corvus 1X12 (27.5X 2.8" & winter 26X 4.6"), Merlin Agilis 1X11
thanks. this process (video) is damn easy and is easy to navigate on the snug portions with the black tape method (adjacent to the welds).





