What's happened to the paint job?

[bpsmith]

Thinking about it depending on the paints and paint finish and especially with red. Lots of uv light/sunlight candidates fade/send it milky too.

Vauxhall red (pink) anyone... Old royal mail vans. That can be cut off until you use all the paint up.

That was because they were a single stage pain with no lacquer over the top. These days, their generally base coat and lacquer so don't fade in the same way. There are some who still use single stage mind you, but not loads.

 

[Illaveago]

I've

Thinking about it depending on the paints and paint finish and especially with red. Lots of uv light/sunlight candidates fade/send it milky too.

Vauxhall red (pink) anyone... Old royal mail vans. That can be cut off until you use all the paint up.

If you have a vehicle with plastic headlights which you leave parked outside, try parking it away from the sun to try to avoid that nasty opaque headlight feeling.

 

[Tin Pot]

It's hard to tell from the first pic what's the problem. Is it the uneven look of the reflection? To me that looks just like imperfections in the carbon layup.

Try polishing it first with a non-abrasive polish like Mr Sheen, which contains a solvent that will remove any contamination then as it dries will leave a layer of hard wax, which will buff up. If that fails go for car polish, which is mildly abrasive, but nothing any harsher or you'll ruin the paint. That means not using T Cut for example.

Just looks blurred, greasy or something. It's not carbon BTW.

I'll try Mr sheen first then.

Ta.

 

[Illaveago]

Sorry I didn't know that it wasn't carbon fibre as it can sometimes delaminate.

 

[Smokin Joe]

I've
If you have a vehicle with plastic headlights which you leave parked outside, try parking it away from the sun to try to avoid that nasty opaque headlight feeling.

This stuff brings it back to new again. It really does work -

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/QUIXX-Hea...estorer-Kit-/121401088140?hash=item1c4411988c

 

[Tom B]

Royal mail did that with post boxes and by with red phoneboxes... Now they use single part paints as UV resistance is better.

Red will always fade more easily and is a can be bastard to work with. When on work expirence in a pair lab it was explained why, but I've forgot. It's a pain to work because of the way the human eye works and it being bang up against infrared.

 

[Tin Pot]

You haven't dinged it have you. Try some car polish to see if it takes it off.

I've done Mr Sheen - no effect whatsoever.

I ran my fingers over it and the surface feels like a lot of tiny dents.

Then I noticed it's only on that front part of the top tube, not on the middle or back.

Then I remembered I had one of these on it for about 18 months...

(A fashion crime to some)

Surely these bags are designed not to damage the frame?

 

[fossyant]

The bag has done it

T cut. All bags scratch paint

 

[fossyant]

If you'd told us you had a bag then we would have told you why immediately.

You will need t cut or similar to try and improve the finish. It may not work.

What happens is the straps will get dirty and this dirt is then rubbed between strap and frame.

 

[Tin Pot]

If you'd told us you had a bag then we would have told you why immediately.

You will need t cut or similar to try and improve the finish. It may not work.

What happens is the straps will get dirty and this dirt is then rubbed between strap and frame.

Ah crap.

I'd forgotten about the bag. Took it off ages ago and forgot about it. I suppose I can always put it back on.

I'll get some t cut, on the off chance.

The more I get interested in maintaining my bike, the more terrible it looks. I should've stuck to LBS maintenance and blissful ignorance!

Thanks for your help.

 

[fossyant]

Give the bike a good going over with some car polish then just use Mr Sheen on a regular basis. It's very effective and cheap. It also cleans the brake dust stains off tyres.

 

[Tin Pot]

Give the bike a good going over with some car polish then just use Mr Sheen on a regular basis. It's very effective and cheap. It also cleans the brake dust stains off tyres.

Ah, is that what took so long to clean off the rims and got everywhere, last week?

I'll be careful to only use it on the tyres.

Cheers again.

 

[fossyant]

I use Mr Sheen everywhere. Not an issue on the rims. The key is to wash the brake dust (it's actually the alloy from the rim 5hats been erroded) off on a regular basis.

 

[Elybazza61]

I suppose I can always put it back on.

Please do not do this

 

[Illaveago]

Ah crap.

I'd forgotten about the bag. Took it off ages ago and forgot about it. I suppose I can always put it back on.

I'll get some t cut, on the off chance.

The more I get interested in maintaining my bike, the more terrible it looks. I should've stuck to LBS maintenance and blissful ignorance!

Thanks for your help.

It sounds that you are becoming old and forgetful. It comes with age.