So what's the pro's and con's of leaving an aluminium frame vs putting on a clearcoat?
A mate has a raw bird am9, not clear coated. Seat stays and a couple top tube areas have a slightly more polished look to them than other areas from clothing shoes or whatever running on it. I think it makes it look better but a couple mates would prefer to be mor uniform. Would imagine a clear coat would stop that polished from rub look?
Bare aluminium alloy oxidises rapidly so a shiny polished frame will go dull in no time. The only way to stop it is clear coat, unless you like the bare, dull finish
Raw for me.
Just give it a scuffing up with a brillo pad every now and again to keep it looking good/ get rid of any polished spots from cables.
An anoidised frame won't oxidize.
I really fancy a raw aluminium frame next.
A mate has a raw bird am9, not clear coated.
Yeah, they're gorgeous ... saw a raw XL today .. barely fit into the uplift.
a shiny polished frame will go dull in no time. The only way to stop it is clear coat, unless you like the bare, dull finish
Yeah, its Jnr's as well so I'll end up doing that no doubt...
breadcrumb
An anoidised frame won’t oxidize.
Anodising IS oxidisation
I've had polished frames, they go dull. Just every now and then I use to give them a bit of rub down with Autosol to bring the shiny back for a while.
I'm sure you will correct me if I'm wrong, anoidising is a stable protective oxidation, compared to the oxidation (white furry appearance) you see with untreated aluminium.
Right. So you can't have a raw frame that's anodised.
Just on the flip side I’ve got a Bird Aether which is raw but with a clear powder coat / clearcoat over the top. I think it looks great and it should stay that way with no work at all!
Right. So you can’t have a raw frame that’s anodised.
I, possibly wrongly assume most raw frames just mean not painted.
Like anoidising without any coloured dye.
So just the acid solution.
Many, many years ago for my GCSE Design and Realisation project I made a bike work stand. The clamp was cast aluminium, that I anoidised clear.
EDIT or like Joe says clear coated.
I had a raw 456 EVO2, that was clear coated.
It depends on the particular aluminium alloy. Some need clearcoat or they’ll corrode.
Raw aluminum leaves a grey mark on clothing from the oxide.
We used to wear alloy platemail in the heavy boning work before chainmail got cheaper. The uncoated alloy left lots of horrid marks on your coat and it became the practice to wear an apron, the mail, and a 2nd apron.
It depends on the particular aluminium alloy. Some need clearcoat or they’ll corrode.
I'm guessing it's a 6061-T6 ... but not got the frame yet. Don't even know the seatpost diameter yet ...