kiwisuzuki1100nz Posted July 9, 2019 Share Posted July 9, 2019 Hi, I would like to clean and restore the ali frame. I have the bike stripped. Apart from scotchbrite and 320 grit sandpaper any other good options? Considering a frame polish but given the bike pretty stock I would like to try and keep they frame finish standard looking? Glass bead blast? Soda blast? What have others done? Appreciate any help Quote Link to comment
Gixer1460 Posted July 9, 2019 Share Posted July 9, 2019 Your options are limited! Forget abrasives and blasting as the frames are anodised as std - not very well but enough to stop corrosion. Any scratching will allow the white furry corrosion creatures in. If you do go that route then either get it clear powder coated (matt or satin) to keep it looking mint or buy a lifetime supply of metal polish and waste every sunday till you sell it - polishing it! 3 Quote Link to comment
kiwisuzuki1100nz Posted July 9, 2019 Author Share Posted July 9, 2019 ok With the clear powder coating - Does it stay clear? i.e. doesnt yellow? I assume those that get the frame polished to a shine get a clear powder coat to retain the shine as well? Or are they forever polishing Quote Link to comment
Gixer1460 Posted July 9, 2019 Share Posted July 9, 2019 The PC stuff these days is a lot more UV stable than it used to be but eventually it will go - maybe 15+ years? Coating a polished frame is an option - most probably just like polishing rather than riding? 1 Quote Link to comment
kiwisuzuki1100nz Posted July 9, 2019 Author Share Posted July 9, 2019 (edited) Ill give it a good clean and see how she looks first before I explore the pain of blast and powder coat. Thanks Gixer1460 Edited July 9, 2019 by kiwisuzuki1100nz Quote Link to comment
Dezza Posted July 9, 2019 Share Posted July 9, 2019 Are you patient and do you like faffing about with chemicals? If so, maybe try to remove the old anodising chemically. Personally I would try this first by wrapping rags or sponges round the frame rails then soaking them with a caustic soda solution. Leaving the ali soaked in caustic soda solution for 30 min should soften the anodising enabling its removal with scotchbrite. If the results are positive the frame could be done in sections over a period of time, and then you'd end up with a frame you could finish with Belgom, which contains a wax. Quote Link to comment
eddiegsx Posted July 9, 2019 Share Posted July 9, 2019 The swingarm on my 1100h was in a right state so I had it chrome powder coated, it's not that far off and it's hard wearing it certainly ain't chrome! All depends how original you want it to look? 1 Quote Link to comment
Swiss Toni Posted July 9, 2019 Share Posted July 9, 2019 Oven cleaner will remove anodising. Brush it on, leave a few minutes, then hose it off to neutralise it. It will go black, but will polish up. There was an anodiser that did frames somewhere in the Midlands. Competitive price too. If I can find the phone number, I'll post it up. Quote Link to comment
Dezza Posted July 9, 2019 Share Posted July 9, 2019 20 minutes ago, Swiss Toni said: Oven cleaner will remove anodising. Brush it on, leave a few minutes, then hose it off to neutralise it. It will go black, but will polish up. There was an anodiser that did frames somewhere in the Midlands. Competitive price too. If I can find the phone number, I'll post it up. This is correct. The active ingredient is sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) but it also has a foaming agent that makes it stick to vertical surfaces Quote Link to comment
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