[CR]Agree to disagree - Clear Coating to preserve Patina

(Example: Events:Cirque du Cyclisme:2004)

Date: Thu, 22 Jan 2004 12:18:20 -0500 (EST)
From: <wheelman@nac.net>
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: [CR]Agree to disagree - Clear Coating to preserve Patina

I am still not convinced that clear coating is the best solution. It works, it is quick and if all you want to do is preserve a visual appearance so you can use it on a daily basis that is fine. I read the postings where it explained that it is a good way to preserve damaged or flaking decals. I can brush on some clear coat or varnish over these areas and not goo up the entire paint job. Some say it seals the bike from rust progression. Not sure I want to seal rust into anything. I want to clean it and prevent it from spreading. If this damages some paint then that paint is lost anyway. Some like to preserve chrome lugs and other details. I think this is great but masking the rest of the bike would be my preference. Yep, I am probably a fanatic when it comes to how I treat my bikes. I ride them because that is what they are for. I also spend way to much time cleaning, polishing, waxing and detailing them for my own good. My first approach to a newly acquired bike is to break it down and work on the frame. Clean out dirt, remove rust and loose paint and be very careful with the decals, ect. Depending on the condition I get out my No.7 chrome polish and go over the chrome one inch at a time slowly using a circular pattern. I let it dry and buff it by hand till it looks like a mirror. Even older chrome has come up very nicely using this method. Now the painted surface I try and preserve as much as possible. Again a good polishing compound by hand using the same methods has produced real nice results for me. Now for the decal areas, I will spot them with clear coat if I think they are in need of being secured. Finally I top that all off with a good coat of wax using that same time consuming method. I have taken as much as 2 months to do a frame this way. The time spent is dependent on the condition of the bike in the first place. Now I am contemplating a Motobecane project that I have had for a while. Nice bike in my size, full Campy, silver paint with black Nervex lugs but one serious flaw. The silver paint looks almost like it has a camouflage effect from a past clear coating. I have tried several methods to see how it could be removed without damaging the original paint and so far nothing has worked. Now you see why my prejudice in this area.

Ray Homiski
Elizabeth, NJ