Tarheel Trailblazers Message Board - Best solution for paint chips on alloy frame?

07/07/25 at 6:40am

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Best solution for paint chips on alloy frame? (Read 944 times)

Specialist Little Ring Offline The rider formerly known as "Trekker1" Posts: 694 Location: Charlotte Joined: 05/11/12	Best solution for paint chips on alloy frame? 03/03/16 at 9:42pm	Print Post
	After only 50 miles or so I've managed 5 "bb" sized chips on the frame of my 2016 Specialized Stumpjumper in Moto Green. And I don't even know where they came from (I only noticed them after picking the bike up after its 30 day tune up - but they don't look like tool marks at all). I suspect some rock gardens at Sherman are to blame or transporting the bike all around CLT. Specialized doesn't sell touch up paint and it will be hard to match Moto green. Suggestions? How durable is nail polish? Can I use clear nail polish just to protect the bare alloy? How long will that hold up?
	« Last Edit: 03/03/16 at 9:57pm by Specialist »
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49erRider Ex Member	Re: Best solution for paint chips on alloy frame? Reply #1 - 03/04/16 at 1:36pm	Print Post
	I've always used nail polish. Works great, I buy a few colors and mix it to get it as close as possible. Get some clear protective tape and put on the downtube and areas where rocks will fly up and hit it. And at the end of the day never forget that it is a mountain bike and it will happen no matter what you do to prevent it.
	« Last Edit: 03/04/16 at 1:37pm by 49erRider »
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BudLeach Small Cog Offline Posts: 394 Location: Gastonia Joined: 09/09/14	Re: Best solution for paint chips on alloy frame? Reply #2 - 03/04/16 at 4:09pm	Print Post
	This stuff is awesome! A bit pricey, but well worth it IMO. Can cut it to whatever size and shape needed. One roll can do many frames. (You need to *Login* or *Register* to view media files and links) Its perfectly clear and barely noticeable once installed, especially if you have frame has a glossy finish. If your frame is matte finish, this will make the covered areas appear glossy.
	« Last Edit: 03/04/16 at 4:16pm by BudLeach »
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Yellowduck Big Ring Offline Work Ride Tarheel Trailblazers Posts: 1537 Location: Concord Joined: 04/28/10	Re: Best solution for paint chips on alloy frame? Reply #3 - 03/04/16 at 9:04pm	Print Post
	BudLeach wrote on 03/04/16 at 4:09pm: This stuff is awesome! A bit pricey, but well worth it IMO. Can cut it to whatever size and shape needed. One roll can do many frames. (You need to *Login* or *Register* to view media files and links) Its perfectly clear and barely noticeable once installed, especially if you have frame has a glossy finish. If your frame is matte finish, this will make the covered areas appear glossy. Agreed, I use it on all my bikes. It removes without damaging the paint or leaving residue.

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BigBikeMike Project Board Offline Work Ride Tarheel Trailblazers Posts: 1593 Joined: 06/14/09	Re: Best solution for paint chips on alloy frame? Reply #4 - 03/05/16 at 1:37am	Print Post
	I worked in an auto body and paint shop for years and we mixed our own paint. If you have a buddy that works in a shop, they have a camera that takes 3 pictures of your bike and when hooked to their computer can make a formula to mix paint to match your bike. You can touch up the scratch and cover with clear. That's what I did in the past.

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sCvHeaVens Small Cog Offline Work Ride Tarheel Trailblazers Posts: 447 Location: Charlotte, NC Joined: 02/12/15	Re: Best solution for paint chips on alloy frame? Reply #5 - 03/07/16 at 7:09pm	Print Post
	What's your end goal? To look pretty or worried about protection? To look pretty I recommend giving up while you are ahead.... to protect it I also recommend not worrying about it. While I may get flamed for that statement - aluminum doesn't rust, it corrodes, and to add to that when it corrodes it actually builds a protective layer of aluminum oxide that protects against further corrosion (at the expense of a milky gray look vs silver). Now if the chips are around where other metal goes into the aluminum (such as a bolt); you will need to take steps to ensure the other metal doesn't rust (such as buy a new aluminum bolt / paint the bolt / etc). I would love to say that I'm a genius and knew all this off the top of my head but the fact is I found this (along with other resources) after I found a scratch on my new bike - (You need to *Login* or *Register* to view media files and links). 2 years later no rust or anything at scratch (can't see / tell if there is any corrosion)... however some steel bolts I bought to mount my caliper to my 200mm brake extender thingy-ma-bob are showing signs of rust.

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