I recently purchased a steel Motobecane frame from a local thrift store. I sanded it down to the actual steel frame due to all the scuffs and scratches. I'm wondering if anyone has ever left the bike "unpainted". I'd buff the steel and put a tough finish on it to keep it from damage, but has anyone actually done this?

Also: Since all the logos and decals are gone now, I was thinking of etching them into the steel using some type of acid. It would sure give it a clean and unique look!

I think a coat of clear powdercoat would work if you like the look of bare steel. From what I've heard, automotive-type clearcoat will NOT work--rust will form underneath the finish. I suppose you could also just wipe the naked, unfinished steel frame with Boeshield and a rag every now and then--that would probably work fine.
I'd be careful about etching the frame, though--it just doesn't sound like a good idea.
I leave further comment to someone who actually knows something.
JV

Do you have something against paint ? Really, I guess it's a matter of taste, but doesn't a nicely painted or powdercoated frame look better than a naked steel one ? Just my $0.02

Nothing wrong with someone having different taste than you

Sounds like it would look awesome to me!

I have toyed with the same idea of taking a steel frame down to metal and clearcoating it. I understand that the brazing marks add character. And think how great bare titanium looks, IMHO.

Rivendell is selling their Bombadil frame unpainted with a few coats of clear coat:

https://www.rivbike.com/blogs/news_post/76

There are quite a few BMX companies offering "raw" finished bikes (clear powdercoated.) It looks pretty nice in my opinion.

I say go for it. While it may not be traditionally pretty, it certainly is a unique way to appreciate the look of the steel. I'm assuming you did not spend much on it at the thrift store, so what have you got to lose? Plus, you can always change it later. The etching I would think twice about, neat idea though.

-Matt

Abandon the acid-trip, dude. It would oxidize down deep into the metallic latices and keep going beyond the reach of a neutralizing solution. Read: The frame could slowly fall apart with the equivalent of rust - only much faster and deeper inside.

I've powder coated thousands of things in the last 15 years. From Harley parts, to electronic equipment, to bicycles. I've even done wood and plastic. I've never seen any clear powder that does what you describe.

I have had 2 BMX's that were cleared over bare steel......Both developed rust under the clear and were toast in short order. Clear powdercoat may last longer because it is tougher than auto clear but I still believe it's still asking for trouble in the long run because automotive clear coat and powdercoat do not chemically bond with steel. It only mechanicly binds by way of grabbing scratches in the surface of the steel. Auto clear is made to chemically bind with the base they are applied over........Not the best thing for bare steel.
I think it looks cool but I'd rather have protection.

I've powder coated thousands of things in the last 15 years. From Harley parts, to electronic equipment, to bicycles. I've even done wood and plastic. I've never seen any clear powder that does what you describe.

Sorry, I may have been unclear. When I said "automotive-type clearcoat" I meant conventional paint clearcoat--the clear topcoat that goes on over automotive paint.
JV

When I stripped my frame before painting is i was surprised at how pretty a naked lugged steel frame is.

You have the lugs, the bright brass of the brazing, ...you see little details.

of course I kind of liked how it looked in grey primer....so maybe i'm easy

thank for all the help, everybody. I'm going to work on it this weekend and hopefully I'll make some progress. I'll try and post some pictures of it too.

You know, although etching the bare frame with acid is an awful idea, you might be able to do something like it by having some sort of mask of the lettering made and having a sandblaster etch the lettering into the steel. Not sure just how that would work, but I know that the granite industry uses a similar process (I'm near Barre, Vermont, where they make a lot of gravestones) to etch lettering in stone. I wouldn't try it on a priceless bike, but it might be worth experimenting with. The effect might be subtle but maybe it would look kind of cool.
Anyone else ever heard of anything similar?
JV

I would think that etching on such thin steel might diminish the integrity of the steel.

i still havent gotten around to painting my cyclocross bike. its a neat look and gets a lot of comments but its only temporary till after the winter season...

How would I go about powder coating the entire frame? Wouldn't I basically need a giant oven?

There is a BF member with a chrome Pinarello that had the lettering etched in by a blaster. It looked a lot like a hologram.

No, just take it to a powder coater. The oven of which you speak is simply a paint booth. They're warm, dry, but they wouldn't EZBake your frame.