Polishing Road Bicycle
 

Hi guys!
I was wondering what polisher should I use to get rid of those notorious swirls on black paint? Also how should I apply them? I'm looking for a one that is just spray on applicator and wipe around.

Be careful. Do you mean polish in the sense of grinding off some of the surface? If so, you likely want the finest grit auto body polishing compound. Something by Mother's or Maguire's. Don't overdo or you will go through your paint. That stuff doesn't usually come as a spray. If you just mean something to coat and shine like a wax, that's different.

It would be similar to removing swirls on automotive paint. Swirls are tiny scratches in the paint. You're not removing them with something you just spray on and wipe around. Removing swirls from paint involves a product with microscopic abrasives and takes elbow grease to scrub at the paint. Essentially, you are not removing swirls. You are removing the paint with abrasives around the swirls to get it down to a level that the swirls are at.

Note, you're bicycle's paint is probably a lot softer than the hard clear coat of an automobile. Meguiars Swirl-X would probably be good for that. Meguiars Scratch-X is also a great product, but a little more abrasive than Swirl-X.

What you say is absolutely correct and much more detailed than what I provided. When reading your post, it did occur to me that there is an alternative approach. Rather than grinding paint or clear coat down to the level of the swirls, a safer approach is to fill in the scratches and build up the whole surface to the same level, basically apply a coat of paste wax or something similar. That should also do the trick but with a little less angst. Of course it isn't permanent and has to be redone from time to time. Two sides of the same coin.

There is also a chance OPs bike is really only greasy and a good wipe down would work.

I give my bikes a quick wipe with an unscented baby wipe after each ride. It takes about a minute, takes any dust, bugs, sweat or drink splashes off and there seems to be some lanolin or something in them that acts like a light wax.

Actually removing swirl marks and scratches is referred to as "paint correction". It requires training, a medium amount of skill, and access to a full range of different polishing compounds and tools to do it properly. Do it improperly, and you risk doing more damage than you fix. And once done, you need a very careful and disciplined cleaning process or the swirls will come right back.

Your best bet is to use something like Meguiar's G6207 Black Wax Paste. That will (temporarily) fill the swirl marks and give you a nice looking shine. You'll probably need to re-do it each time you wash the bike, but a bike frame is so small that waxing only takes a few extra minutes. It's slightly more work than a spray, but you'll get much better results. A 7oz tube will set you back about $12 and probably last two years or more. Yes, there are much "higher quality" (more expensive) products out there, but using a concourse quality wax on a bike frame is a little silly.

Start with the gentlest stuff first. In the Meguire's line that is Cleaner Wax. If that doesn't do the trick you can try a little bit of their Polish. I would not use anything more abrasive or you will go right through the paint.

I was thinking about using Pedro's Bike Lust Polish would that do the trick or would I have to use something else?

This ... and sometimes I'll give them a polish with ordinary everyday furniture polish.

I use car wax and a clean cotton sock and put some muscle into it. Check out this 24 year old Fuji that cleaned up like new.

BEFORE................

http://i1272.photobucket.com/albums/...psifxzs3km.jpg

http://i1272.photobucket.com/albums/...pso7gn6v1m.jpg

AFTER............

http://i1272.photobucket.com/albums/...psig3prrmi.jpg

http://i1272.photobucket.com/albums/...pstuc1jaz4.jpg

I use Pledge.

Both my active bikes are clear coated with fairly tough paint. After a wash with highly diluted 'dish' soap, I 'blow-dry' the bike by riding it around the block 'real fast' followed by a thorough wipe down. Then -- I simply spray the bike with Pledge, being careful to avoid the brake parts and then wipe it down with old T-shirts.

It works. It's quick, shiny and lasts for some time. Pledge also seems to lower the amount of schmutz that sticks to the parts.

Joe

Pledge is great AFTER the initial cleanup and polishing is done. Pledge will not do the dirty work.

Meguiar's Car Cleaner Wax is a great product. However, if you want to get at the scratches, the best, safest thing you can use is Meguiar's Ultimate Compound. I don't believe in magic potions but I've used lots of products in the cleaning/polishing/waxing world over a few decades and this product is pretty amazing. And it errs on the safe side so you can use it with confidence!

What if the OP has a Specialized? Cuz you can't polish a turd.

Doh!! Ba-da-boom......ba-da-bing!!!!! :p

Plexus