polish clear coat on a carbon post?

Last fall a teammate borrowed one of my 'cross bikes, and it had to be
adjusted for him (lower seat height) very quickly, so the carbon post is now
completely scratched and scuffed. On any of my bikes, there are at least a
few cm showing of this scratched up section of post. My question is, how
can I polish/smooth the clear coat so that it doesn't look horrible? The
post is still fine, just the clear coat is really ugly. There are scuffs, as
well as some deeper scratches in it, but nothing that goes through the clear
coat to the carbon itself.

On Jun 25, 2:15 pm, "John Verheul" wrote:
Last fall a teammate borrowed one of my 'cross bikes, and it had to be
adjusted for him (lower seat height) very quickly, so the carbon post is now
completely scratched and scuffed. On any of my bikes, there are at least a
few cm showing of this scratched up section of post. My question is, how
can I polish/smooth the clear coat so that it doesn't look horrible? The
post is still fine, just the clear coat is really ugly. There are scuffs, as
well as some deeper scratches in it, but nothing that goes through the clear
coat to the carbon itself.

For my carbon frame, standard operating procedure is to get yourself
some clear nail polish and just touch it up. Unless the scratch is
deep, in which case, you may want to have it inspected by a shop. Good
Luck!

On Mon, 25 Jun 2007 15:37:09 -0700, bfd wrote:
On Jun 25, 2:15 pm, "John Verheul" wrote:
Last fall a teammate borrowed one of my 'cross bikes, and it had to be
adjusted for him (lower seat height) very quickly, so the carbon post is now
completely scratched and scuffed. On any of my bikes, there are at least a
few cm showing of this scratched up section of post. My question is, how
can I polish/smooth the clear coat so that it doesn't look horrible? The
post is still fine, just the clear coat is really ugly. There are scuffs, as
well as some deeper scratches in it, but nothing that goes through the clear
coat to the carbon itself.

For my carbon frame, standard operating procedure is to get yourself
some clear nail polish and just touch it up. Unless the scratch is
deep, in which case, you may want to have it inspected by a shop. Good
Luck!


I purchsed clear coat formulated for carbon fiber from a commercial
auto paint supply packaged in a spray can. In your case I think
you just need to polish with very fine paper 800 or and finish
with compound. It will take a number of coats to repair chips
with this method but the repair will be totaly indistinguishable
from orig. My supplier was senikpaint.com in Costa Mesa CA but
should be avail locally.

Bob

John Verheul wrote:
Last fall a teammate borrowed one of my 'cross bikes, and it had to be
adjusted for him (lower seat height) very quickly, so the carbon post is now
completely scratched and scuffed. On any of my bikes, there are at least a
few cm showing of this scratched up section of post. My question is, how
can I polish/smooth the clear coat so that it doesn't look horrible? The
post is still fine, just the clear coat is really ugly. There are scuffs, as
well as some deeper scratches in it, but nothing that goes through the clear
coat to the carbon itself.


nail polish. cheap. works great.

On Jun 25, 6:37 pm, bfd wrote:
On Jun 25, 2:15 pm, "John Verheul" wrote:

Last fall a teammate borrowed one of my 'cross bikes, and it had to be
adjusted for him (lower seat height) very quickly, so the carbon post is now
completely scratched and scuffed. On any of my bikes, there are at least a
few cm showing of this scratched up section of post. My question is, how
can I polish/smooth the clear coat so that it doesn't look horrible? The
post is still fine, just the clear coat is really ugly. There are scuffs, as
well as some deeper scratches in it, but nothing that goes through the clear
coat to the carbon itself.

For my carbon frame, standard operating procedure is to get yourself
some clear nail polish and just touch it up. Unless the scratch is
deep, in which case, you may want to have it inspected by a shop. Good
Luck!

Curious, how does the shop perform an inspection?

Chris

Chris Nelson wrote:
On Jun 25, 6:37 pm, bfd wrote:
On Jun 25, 2:15 pm, "John Verheul" wrote:

Last fall a teammate borrowed one of my 'cross bikes, and it had to be
adjusted for him (lower seat height) very quickly, so the carbon post is now
completely scratched and scuffed. On any of my bikes, there are at least a
few cm showing of this scratched up section of post. My question is, how
can I polish/smooth the clear coat so that it doesn't look horrible? The
post is still fine, just the clear coat is really ugly. There are scuffs, as
well as some deeper scratches in it, but nothing that goes through the clear
coat to the carbon itself.
For my carbon frame, standard operating procedure is to get yourself
some clear nail polish and just touch it up. Unless the scratch is
deep, in which case, you may want to have it inspected by a shop. Good
Luck!

Curious, how does the shop perform an inspection?

usually, visually. other than having some experience, they're often not
in as good a position to judge as the owner if there's a problem.

damage to clearcoat means nothing structurally unless it causes
weathering and delamination. if the component has a layer of cosmetic
weave on the exterior, damage to that often that doesn't mean much
structurally either. the #1 thing to "look" out for is noise.
cracking, creaking or groaning noises [when isolated from fitting
issues] in carbon is a guaranteed problem - regardless of looks. if a
fork cracks and creaks when the blades are squeezed together for
instance, condemn it immediately. riders of carbon componentry should
be aware of this at all times.

"jim beam" wrote in message
t...
Chris Nelson wrote:
On Jun 25, 6:37 pm, bfd wrote:
On Jun 25, 2:15 pm, "John Verheul" wrote:

Last fall a teammate borrowed one of my 'cross bikes, and it had to be
adjusted for him (lower seat height) very quickly, so the carbon post
is now
completely scratched and scuffed. On any of my bikes, there are at
least a
few cm showing of this scratched up section of post. My question is,
how
can I polish/smooth the clear coat so that it doesn't look horrible?
The
post is still fine, just the clear coat is really ugly. There are
scuffs, as
well as some deeper scratches in it, but nothing that goes through the
clear
coat to the carbon itself.
For my carbon frame, standard operating procedure is to get yourself
some clear nail polish and just touch it up. Unless the scratch is
deep, in which case, you may want to have it inspected by a shop. Good
Luck!

Curious, how does the shop perform an inspection?

usually, visually. other than having some experience, they're often not
in as good a position to judge as the owner if there's a problem.

damage to clearcoat means nothing structurally unless it causes
weathering and delamination. if the component has a layer of cosmetic
weave on the exterior, damage to that often that doesn't mean much
structurally either. the #1 thing to "look" out for is noise.
cracking, creaking or groaning noises [when isolated from fitting
issues] in carbon is a guaranteed problem - regardless of looks. if a
fork cracks and creaks when the blades are squeezed together for
instance, condemn it immediately. riders of carbon componentry should
be aware of this at all times.

Well said, sir!
Bruce

Robert Lorenzini wrote:
I purchsed clear coat formulated for carbon fiber from a commercial
auto paint supply packaged in a spray can. In your case I think
you just need to polish with very fine paper 800 or and finish
with compound. It will take a number of coats to repair chips
with this method but the repair will be totaly indistinguishable
from orig. My supplier was senikpaint.com in Costa Mesa CA but
should be avail locally.

My variation (all materials available from a hardware store) -
If a recoat is necessary use gloss polyurethane varnish (water borne).

Wet sand the bad area (200-400#) to smooth out /remove scratches.
Spray or brush on the polyurethane. Avoid thick coats.
After sufficient drying time, wet sand again using progessively finer
grits up to 600/800 or so.
Repeat with additional coats if necessary, especially if there are
areas (chips) that need to be built up.

Rottenstone rubbing powder is great for the finish polishing.
Automotive rubbing compunds tend to be a little too aggressive.

As described by the poster above, the finish will look like new.

DR

On Jun 25, 2:15 pm, "John Verheul" wrote:
Last fall a teammate borrowed one of my 'cross bikes, and it had to be
adjusted for him (lower seat height) very quickly, so the carbon post is now
completely scratched and scuffed. On any of my bikes, there are at least a
few cm showing of this scratched up section of post. My question is, how
can I polish/smooth the clear coat so that it doesn't look horrible? The
post is still fine, just the clear coat is really ugly. There are scuffs, as
well as some deeper scratches in it, but nothing that goes through the clear
coat to the carbon itself.

On Jun 25, 6:37 pm, bfd wrote:
For my carbon frame, standard operating procedure is to get yourself
some clear nail polish and just touch it up. Unless the scratch is
deep, in which case, you may want to have it inspected by a shop. Good
Luck!

Chris Nelson wrote:
Curious, how does the shop perform an inspection?

Good question, I agree. We may have some experience but no special
training nor capacity for a definitive analysis.
--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

On Jun 26, 8:59 am, jim beam wrote:
Chris Nelson wrote:
On Jun 25, 6:37 pm, bfd wrote:
On Jun 25, 2:15 pm, "John Verheul" wrote:

Last fall a teammate borrowed one of my 'cross bikes, and it had to be
adjusted for him (lower seat height) very quickly, so the carbon post is now
completely scratched and scuffed. On any of my bikes, there are at least a
few cm showing of this scratched up section of post. My question is, how
can I polish/smooth the clear coat so that it doesn't look horrible? The
post is still fine, just the clear coat is really ugly. There are scuffs, as
well as some deeper scratches in it, but nothing that goes through the clear
coat to the carbon itself.
For my carbon frame, standard operating procedure is to get yourself
some clear nail polish and just touch it up. Unless the scratch is
deep, in which case, you may want to have it inspected by a shop. Good
Luck!

Curious, how does the shop perform an inspection?

usually, visually. other than having some experience, they're often not
in as good a position to judge as the owner if there's a problem.

damage to clearcoat means nothing structurally unless it causes
weathering and delamination. if the component has a layer of cosmetic
weave on the exterior, damage to that often that doesn't mean much
structurally either. the #1 thing to "look" out for is noise.
cracking, creaking or groaning noises [when isolated from fitting
issues] in carbon is a guaranteed problem - regardless of looks. if a
fork cracks and creaks when the blades are squeezed together for
instance, condemn it immediately. riders of carbon componentry should
be aware of this at all times.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Alllrighty then. I will be adding the creak and groan check to my
preride ritual on my one and only carbon device, the fork, ironically,
the last place you want material failure. After ride launch, these
sounds are more likely to come from the engine room.

Chris