Repairing paintwork damage

[confusedcyclist]

Anyone got any good resources for repairing paintwork chips/scratches etc?


My Giant Defy frame has a bit of cosmetic wear on the bottom of the down tube where the bidon has rubbed. The mount on the seat tube is a little too low which is why the bidon has rubbed the glossy layer of paint. It's not especially noticeable out and about, but I'm concerned that it will become more so with further use and the frame could be damaged by the salt on the roads going forward.


The bike has only done 1k miles so I don't want to be taking it for a respray just yet! Any ideas for fixing this up?

 

[MisterStan]

Nail polish.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Humbrol enamel paints. Come in loads of colours, and if you have a good eye for colour you might be able to mix up a perfick match. Try your biggest local toy store.

 

[screenman]

Battle scars, wear them with pride.

In the motor trade we have a saying "touch up is just a touch up". Often it looks more obvious than it did before.

 

[confusedcyclist]

Battle scars, wear them with pride.

In the motor trade we have a saying "touch up is just a touch up". Often it looks more obvious than it did before.

I wouldn't call a bidon rubbing blemish a battle scar!

I have left all my others, this is the only one I am concerned about as I bet the gloss provides protection from the elements... I'm fitting replacement rims tonight so will get a picture up.

 

[simon.r]

If it's just protection from the elements you're after, clear nail varnish.

 

[youngoldbloke]

Touching it up won't solve the problem - a new bottle cage might. Otherwise maybe one of the cable protection patches might work, or a piece of insulation tape.

 

[Blue Hills]

Yes or duct tape. I have some on a bike where a cable rubbed the paint off.

I fear though that this solution (which also makes the bike less nickable) may not be suitable for someone using a bidon.

 

[subaqua]

Battle scars, wear them with pride.

In the motor trade we have a saying "touch up is just a touch up". Often it looks more obvious than it did before.

you should use the dent and scuff man we use then. i know where the scratches were and even i cant see them any more on her car

25 yrs ago I could hide most cosmetic stuff on paint as i was well practised on mates cars. I can get rid of most on wifeys motor but some i defer to the dent n scuff man.


as for the OP question Nail polish, and a decent polishing compound ( to use a trade name T Cut - but thats a bit pants to be fair), clay bar and time

 

[screenman]

you should use the dent and scuff man we use then. i know where the scratches were and even i cant see them any more on her car

25 yrs ago I could hide most cosmetic stuff on paint as i was well practised on mates cars. I can get rid of most on wifeys motor but some i defer to the dent n scuff man.


as for the OP question Nail polish, and a decent polishing compound ( to use a trade name T Cut - but thats a bit pants to be fair), clay bar and time

Touch up is with a brush, spraying and fading in or out is a different matter. Also painting a car and getting it right is far easier than getting a perfect match on a bike frame, for a start even finding the colour code for a bike can be a problem and then the formulation may not be listed in most schemes. I know the mixing scheme I have here gives formulations for motorbikes but not push bikes. Consider a car finish with all its orange peel etc, where as a good bike finish is almost glass like. Sure we can flat and polish, but this has its limitations.

I do PDR, we do not use paint like your dent man does. Spraying as they say is for people who do not do PDR, ask him.

 

[subaqua]

Touch up is with a brush, spraying and fading in or out is a different matter. Also painting a car and getting it right is far easier than getting a perfect match on a bike frame, for a start even finding the colour code for a bike can be a problem and then the formulation may not be listed in most schemes. I know the mixing scheme I have here gives formulations for motorbikes but not push bikes. Consider a car finish with all its orange peel etc, where as a good bike finish is almost glass like. Sure we can flat and polish, but this has its limitations.

I do PDR, we do not use paint like your dent man does. Spraying as they say is for people who do not do PDR, ask him.

where did I say he used paint ?

he uses angel tears and magic smoke as far as I can see.

 

[screenman]

Can you buy them to use in bike colours?

 

[screenman]

OP, to stop this happening again or getting worse helicopter tape is very useful.

 

[subaqua]

Can you buy them to use in bike colours?

dunno but the nail polish i used on the triban 3 that mini me scratched seems to work ok but i didn't use the brush in the pack i used some really fine brushes and then a few hours later when it was hard gave it a rub ( fnaar there is one for you n miss goodbody) and it blended lovely. not hard at all really.

sometime the motor industry just lies about how difficult things really are.

 

[screenman]

Have I upset you subaqua?