Hi
My lovely sparkly spangly frame is still in it's box ready to build up. However I'd like to protect it's lovely paint.
Can anyone recommend a good heli-tape?
Is there such a thing that can be 'moulded' (the top tube which I generally scratch a lot, has a bead of weld all the way down it's length)?
I'm just wondering how I can get it to cover the weld neatly?
Thanks
just buy either a sheet of the stuff for about 15 quid or spend about 5er on about 8 small tabs to stick on the frame where the cables will rub against
I get mine from Biketart.
And remember to warm it up with a hairdrier during application. That will also help it mould to the weld too.
Is biketart the best place to get it then?
Does it vary much from brand to brand?
However I'd like to protect it's lovely paint.
Leave it in the box then 8)
Yeah I know, I know!
Tbh I'll not be so precious about it wants it's been dropped a few
Times but at the moment it looks rather special ( works red tracer)
I bought from Biketart and found it very hard to apply as it was reasonably thin. Also difficult to get rid if the air bubbles on my oddly shaped frame.
I then bought some from www.Justridingalong.co.uk I found it way better to apply as it was a heavier grade and once on with a quick blow over with the hair dryer its virtually invisible. Wouldn't hesitate to buy more.
JRA here too - worth getting the UV stuff as well IMO, as my first lot went a bit yellow after a couple of years 😮
"paragon tapes" on ebay, used it on 3 bikes now, goes an easily, is all but invisible, holds up well and is flexible enough to cover corners/welds nicely.
I dont mind bikes getting damaged in proper use, but damage like cable rub and what I call "rack rash" is easily avoidable so why not avoid it? Ive also seen shockingly deep grooves from cable rub that have got close to trashing a frame.
I bought mine from [b][url= http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/3M-Bike-Tape-Helicopter-tape-1-metre-x-100mm-wide_W0QQitemZ200523000454QQihZ010QQcategoryZ22679QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem ]THIS[/url][/b] chap. It's the 0.36mm stuff and at £8 for 100cm x 10cm, is pretty cheap.
Clean & thoroughly dry the bike, heat the frame with a hair dryer before application.
I used someone on ebay. Worth making sure you get the proper 3m 8671HS stuff. It's thicker, harder and sticks better. Only my opinion of course. As for the weld, put some o-rings over the hoses.
I get mine from here http://www.HeliTape.co.uk/ used the stuff on all my bikes.
I used Paragon tapes on eBay well. The tape was very easy to apply, but a little thinner than I was expecting. It seems to be holding up ok though.
I then bought some more from whuser034 which is advertised with the particular type of tape. I think it's 3M 8671S. It is a lot thicker than the paragon tapes stuff, still goes on easy enough and I expect it to be more durable.
So what is the procedure for best application? Heat tape / heat frame, ??, heat as rolling onto frame?, after lightly sticking to frame?
ta