Hi-

I have a peugeot super competition that I had a crack repaired on and the the downtube shifter braze-ons removed. I like the way the bare steel looks - very ragged and hopefully a theft preventer!

So - I want to clear coat these two sections of the bike - any special considerations I need to make?

thanks in advance.

zac

not really, just any clear coat will work.
Automotive touch up paint is a touch above the rest though.

Automotive touch up paint is normally lacquer. It dries fast, but its nor durable.

Duplicolor's wheel coating would be better, since it's acrylic enamel.

https://www.duplicolor.com/products/wheel.html

sounds like duplicolor is the way to go

just keep in mind though, enamel base is quite toxic. So use as directed, along with a mask and goggles.

Expect to see some rust appear on the unprimed, clear-coated sections.

Rivendell's new Bombadil is going to be available in clearcoat over bare steel. It's a $3000 mountain bike.

Not nearly as much as a lacquer. Enamel is a thermoset paint, drying by a chemical reaction. Lacquer is a thermoplastic paint, drying by evaporation. It's this evaporation of the solvent in lacquer paint that is dangerous.

No rust here.

Clear powder-coating as they are using on the Bombadil would not have that issue.

I've seen some clear powder coated frames and they look pretty cool. Of course any powder coat is typically bead blasted and etched prior to coating. I think the OP was considering hitting the bare spots with some clear enamel in which case..... expect it to show some rust eventually.

Yeah, surface prep is VERY important, and automotice clear will show rust eventually. There was a trend with scuffing or polishing metal, and clear coating it in the truck show scene awhile ago... basically good for a season of shows. Another thing they did was spray a candy over the metal... would gleam and shine like none other showing through the candy... but eventually lost it's gleam.

I know nothing about the powder coat... sounds promising.

What makes you think they're going to powder coat those frames? Grant mentions using the finest Belgian clearcoat, whatever that means

yeah -

i'm converting a peugeot super competition to a single speed. it had a crack in the seat stay that I had repaired (by bernie mikkelson). I didn't want to spend money on repainting it so I decided to make it an errand bike. the bare spots look kind tuff and i want them to show - but what I don't want is debilitating rust.

i think i will go with duplicolor.

zac

From the Rivendell Website:

Here are photos of two prototypes--a 52'er and a60'er. Both are powder coated glossy clear over unblasted bare metal. The finals may have the same paint, but will have decals and a head badge, too.

I'm glad they're not using wet paint over bare metal. I was afraid they'd lost it.