"Milky" paint?
 

This bike, a Diamondback (Centurion) Expert TG maybe isn't quite C&V material but I figured y'all would be helpful. The original vivid orange paint has faded in most places to a kind of milky orange. In the photo below, you can see the true color underneath where the brake housing ran, in contrast to the current color. My question is: has the paint irreversibly faded, or is this distortion something I can remove? Soap and water does nothing, and that's all I've tried so far.

One thing that puzzles me is that the way the housing was protective suggests damage from light. Also consistent with this notion: the undersides of the tubes look much better than the tops. Yet the bike has basically not been ridden since the 90s and I'm pretty sure (it's been in the family) that it was always stored indoors, so it doesn't perfectly add up.


https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a041c06286.jpg

i would try to find a solvent that attacks wax, and doesn't attack paint. Ammonia might do it. Obviously this will help only if there's a coat of wax on there, which I don't know.

After that, i'd try a polishing compound, again starting with something mild (like toothpaste). maybe there's a weathered layer that will come off to reveal better paint beneath?

Strip it down to the bare frame and try rubbing this stuff on it:

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Turtle-Wa...torer/16767855

OP,
You nailed it right with the sun fade....It does look like the bike has sat out in the sun for quite a while and the paint has faded, you could try a very light color sand with a 1200 grit wet and dry paper with a good polish after, but it is unlikely that the color will come back.....Probably not much you can do to bring the color back it .
Good luck, Ben

Yah I don't get it...maybe in its garage spot it gets hit by the noon sun or something. No (other) signs of outdoor storage. Anyway you're probably right. Thanks folks for the other suggestions (toothpaste, fine sanding, Turtle Wax product), I may give one a try. I'm actually just getting the bike in rideable condition, not doing a full restoration, so I'm also prepared to just live with it.

It might be milky wax, though I kind of doubt it. If so, naphtha will remove wax. If that is too scary sounding I'm sure the auto parts store has some sort of wax remover. Always test on a small spot when using any solvent.

It looks like sun fade to me as well, but hard to tell from photos. If the paint hasn't been cleared, you could try a medium polishing compound followed by a fine polishing compound. Again, test on a small spot first.

EDIT Almost certainly that frame has been clearcoated. Nothing you can do about the paint fade, short of a refin. IMO best to just live with it. It's character.

I’d just live with it too. I really appreciate bikes that show their age as long as they’re not actually damaged or abused, especially since you plan on riding it.

100% paint fade. I have a couple of bikes with that in some spots. Not much you can do other than a complete repaint.

I would agree paint fade just clean it up as is with dish soap and give it a light coat of wax and leave alone nothing wrong with a bit o f vintage petina on a bike if everything else is good.

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the accepted term for the type of finish the cycle wore ex-works is "pearlescent"

there are a number of products made to care for automotive finishes which claim to restore "sun damage" and "sun fading"

one quality brand available everywhere is Meguiars

there are lots of other good ones but some have only limited distribution

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I have yet to see pearl two part dupaunt vintage paint job on bike or car that looks new after 20 or more years.

Guessing a white undercoat for a pearl or metalic finish. UV - maybe stored outside or by a window.

color is gone. Good bike - i owned one of those BITD.

This was my project today.

I just got a pink bike from '87. It is definitely faded, especially noticable when I removed the fork and saw the over spray on the steerer.

I gave it some elbow grease with the same polishing compound you'd use on a scuffed car door. Then I waxed it with a Canuba Wax can, like turtle wax. It looks really good, very clean and great shine now.

However, it's not as bright as it was 34 years ago and there's nothing I can do about it. Do you need it look good or brand new?

Definitely faded. DAMHIK


https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...0d012e62d.jpeg

I need to get this bike out of here but I’m hesitating to put it on CL for fear it will land in the Wacky thread

I see nothing wacky or bad wouldn't see any issues selling this one for $259-300 as is locale sale. I know since it bit special bike you would likely want more and keep it if you can' get a better price.

Oh it works great, it's all there. But relevant to the discussion, see the down tube

Ok I'm missing something I see minor issues but not the down tube. took second see it know some one nearly sawed it half then quit leaving a no value frame and fork. So now really only $50 for parts.

No, that's a splatter paint job. He's talking about the serious sun fade.

I used to have a truck I bought used from the Wyoming Fish and Game. You could totally nsee where the badge was for as long as I owned it. It was just less faded where it had been.

lol what. The paint, man. Look at the down tube. It's the same model as the OP's. You should see how great the color is under the BB shell...

Yes, when I first saw the pic....I thought a miracle had happened regarding the paint and then I saw it was yours...too bad, lovely color, no amount of sanding, polishing or any other snake oil will bring back lost pigment...old lacquer is another question.
Best, Ben

Is there really no hope?

Rubbing compound is a mildy abrasive material (very fine) used to remove exactly this type of faded paint without damaging the underlying, undamaged paint. It is like waxing a surface except the abrasive removes the faded paint.

You will lose any glossiness the surface has but that can be restored by polishing or by overcoating with clear.

If it does not work, if the damage goes all the way thru the color coat, you haven't lost anything except time.

It would have to be "a labor of love", as it would not be economical from a cost of labor perspective.

Sometimes it's just a bike. Looks like a good ride but if you just need that original colour and finish, maybe it's not the right bike.

That's basically how I plan to write my ad copy. It's a fast bike but hardly collectible.

OK mystery solved. I got a little mixed up about the bike's history. It was locked up outside for several years (my brother had it during some of the time I thought it was just sitting in a garage). That explains the sun fade! I gave it new cables and housing, it rides very nicely. Will enter a new life as a back up bike, paint as is. Thanks y'all.

I have a 1991 Diamond Back Axis, in that same Orange color. it is the same way, i was chalking it up to sun fade also.