Why no polished aluminum frames?

Gooserider

When I bought my first quality MTB, I bought a Mongoose
Rockadile SX, which had a polished aluminum frame. The shops
were full of shiny polished frames, both road and MTB. My
head tube cracked, due to my neglect, so I was forced to buy
a new frame. NOBODY offers a polished frame. Is this a
matter of the frames being too labor intensive, or just a
matter of fashion? Shame, because I think it's a nice look,
especially when it's freshly washed and polished.

Matt O'Toole

Gooserider wrote:

> When I bought my first quality MTB, I bought a Mongoose
> Rockadile SX, which had a polished aluminum frame. The
> shops were full of shiny polished frames, both road and
> MTB. My head tube cracked, due to my neglect, so I was
> forced to buy a new frame. NOBODY offers a polished frame.
> Is this a matter of the frames being too labor intensive,
> or just a matter of fashion? Shame, because I think it's a
> nice look, especially when it's freshly washed and
> polished.

It's probably both. It does cost more to polish a frame than
to paint it. But if the public demanded it, bike makers
would find a way to offer it.

Polishing does seem to come and go. I've even seen a few half-
painted, half-polished frames lately.

Matt O.

Bernie

Matt O'Toole wrote:

>Gooserider wrote:
>
>>When I bought my first quality MTB, I bought a Mongoose
>>Rockadile SX, which had a polished aluminum frame. The
>>shops were full of shiny polished frames, both road and
>>MTB. My head tube cracked, due to my neglect, so I was
>>forced to buy a new frame. NOBODY offers a polished frame.
>>Is this a matter of the frames being too labor intensive,
>>or just a matter of fashion? Shame, because I think it's a
>>nice look, especially when it's freshly washed and
>>polished.
>>
>
>It's probably both. It does cost more to polish a frame
>than to paint it. But if the public demanded it, bike
>makers would find a way to offer it.
>
>Polishing does seem to come and go. I've even seen a few
>half-painted, half-polished frames lately.
>
>Matt O.
>
>
My Marin Larkspur (2001 editon?) had a nice brushed aluminum
frame with a plastic coat. Looked good. I peeled the decals
off just to improve the look. I liked it. Don't they do that
any more? Bernie

Tom Keats

In article <mv3zc.89714$0X2.3975349@twister.tampabay.rr.com>,
"Gooserider" <gooserider@mouse-potato.com> writes:
> When I bought my first quality MTB, I bought a Mongoose
> Rockadile SX, which had a polished aluminum frame. The
> shops were full of shiny polished frames, both road and
> MTB. My head tube cracked, due to my neglect, so I was
> forced to buy a new frame. NOBODY offers a polished frame.
> Is this a matter of the frames being too labor intensive,
> or just a matter of fashion? Shame, because I think it's a
> nice look, especially when it's freshly washed and
> polished.

Just a guess on my part, but maybe it's done so after-sales
painting of the frame is an option left to the buyer, and
powdercoat sticks better to brushed aluminum?

cheers, Tom

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Dan Baker

"Gooserider" <gooserider@mouse-potato.com> wrote in message news:<mv3zc.89714$0X2.3975349@twister.tampabay.rr.com>...
> NOBODY offers a polished frame.
--------
I'd guess its a combination of labor, exposing every
imperfect weld, and people complained about fingerprints.

Along those lines though, is anyone aware of a shop anywhere
that could strip the paint off a frame, brush it, and
anodize it to prevent oxidation? The paint on my tandem is
ok, but seems to chip pretty easily, exposing a reddish
primer. I would just as soon plan to strip it and leave it
bare someday....

sources?

d

Matt O'Toole

dan baker wrote:

> "Gooserider" <gooserider@mouse-potato.com> wrote in
> message
> news:<mv3zc.89714$0X2.3975349@twister.tampabay.rr.com>...

>> NOBODY offers a polished frame.
> --------
> I'd guess its a combination of labor, exposing every
> imperfect weld, and people complained about fingerprints.

All these things, but mostly labor. It *does* cost a lot to
polish a frame. Most factory polished frames are then
clearcoated too, to prevent fingerprints and oxidation.

> Along those lines though, is anyone aware of a shop
> anywhere that could strip the paint off a frame, brush it,
> and anodize it to prevent oxidation? The paint on my
> tandem is ok, but seems to chip pretty easily, exposing a
> reddish primer. I would just as soon plan to strip it and
> leave it bare someday....

You could do all these things yourself, except the
anodizing. Chemical strippers (try an aircraft or marine
supply store) are the best/fastest way to remove paint. From
there, you could polish it yourself using something like
Simichrome or Met-all, or "brush" it with steel wool.

Some small frame makers would sell you a plain polished
frame, and tell you to use steel wool or metal polish to
maintain its appearance. This "self-maintainable" finish was
a selling point, especially in the early days of mountain
biking when bikes were expensive and would get beat up a
lot. b Metal polish has wax/silicone in it to prevent
oxidation, and it works pretty well.

I've stripped and polished a couple of frames, and a whole
lot of sailboat parts. It's a lot of work, but once it's
done, it's easy to maintain.

Anodizing is cheap in large quantities, but for one-offs
it's quite expensive -- perhaps more than a good paint job,
and certainly more than powdercoat.

GT sold anodized MTB frames for a long time. Some were
clearcoated over the anodizing, some not. Santa Cruz sells
both anodized and polished -- and polished costs extra.

Matt O.

Flatline

Aluminum CAN and does oxidize over time, although more
slowly than steel. Typically it will take on a dull look
and white powdery oxide forms on its surface. I suppose if
you keep it shiny and well-polished, the oxide formation
will be minimal. However, that approach is not typical of
most bike owners.