Alcohol on bike frame?
03-15-24, 08:55 AM
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Alcohol on bike frame?
Hello, I want to place vinyl frame protection from AMS on a new Canyon Grail. The AMS instruction say I need to clean the frame areas with alcohol, before placing the stickers.
It is OK to use alcohol on the frame? I am afraid it could damage the painting
It is OK to use alcohol on the frame? I am afraid it could damage the painting
03-15-24, 09:29 AM
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I just cleaned my carbon Cervelo with IPA prior to graphene coating.
No problems at all.
Test yours in a small spot, like under the bottom bracket.
Barry
No problems at all.
Test yours in a small spot, like under the bottom bracket.
Barry
03-15-24, 09:35 AM
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Isopropyl alcohol is just fine
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03-15-24, 09:41 AM
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I also wouldn't be worried about it. But if you are test it out on a inconspicuous place.
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03-15-24, 11:25 AM
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fwiw my wife used to own a custom steel frame with a swanky but strange matte paint finish that defied any known cleaning solutions. The framebuilder recommended we use isopropyl alchohol on that finish and, I'll be damned, it worked like a charm! So ever since then I now keep a small spray bottle of 70% isopropyl among my collection of bike-cleaning supplies, and it gets used regularly on steel, titanium, and carbon frames with no downside.
03-15-24, 12:54 PM
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03-15-24, 02:28 PM
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03-15-24, 03:00 PM
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03-15-24, 03:22 PM
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Not if you really love your bike !
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03-15-24, 03:30 PM
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The ONLY concern may be decals that were not clear coated after being applied. Otherwise, alcohol would be far less harmful than all sorts of chemicals and solvents that bikes have to be built to tolerate.
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03-15-24, 03:33 PM
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I see no issues with alcohol on a bike frame. It's when you add the wheels and handlebars that you get into trouble.
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03-15-24, 06:15 PM
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You could rub paint thinner on the surface and nothing bad would happen.
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03-15-24, 07:47 PM
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03-15-24, 07:53 PM
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03-17-24, 08:40 AM
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“Paint thinner” is not “paint stripper”. Two very different chemical mixtures. Paint used on bicycle frames is quite robust and “paint thinner” (aka mineral spirits) or alcohol won’t do anything to it. There are situations where mineral spirits will be a far better choice than alcohol of nearly any kind. Oil and grease isn’t soluble in alcohols but it is soluble in mineral spirits.
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03-17-24, 09:28 AM
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03-17-24, 09:41 AM
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When cleaning a bike, IPA is not beer.
After riding a bike, IPA is beer.
I hope that clears that up!
Barry
Edit: When working on a bike, IPA becomes beer again!
Before you ask!
After riding a bike, IPA is beer.
I hope that clears that up!
Barry
Edit: When working on a bike, IPA becomes beer again!
Before you ask!
03-17-24, 10:05 AM
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03-17-24, 10:10 AM
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^^ Damn. If my Takaras had braze ons... It just wouldn't look as good on my Trek or Raleigh.
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03-17-24, 10:47 PM
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“IPA” is a thing nonchemists say. I’ve never met a chemist who calls isopropyl alcohol “IPA”. Few of them will probably call it 2-propanol but, in 40 years of doing chemistry, I’ve never heard it referred to as “IPA”.
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03-17-24, 10:48 PM
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Fully cured paint…especially modern polymer paints…will not be damaged by acetone. I wouldn’t leave it on to soak but a simple wipe will not damage the paint. And, again, what would make the “better choice” will depend on what is on the paint.
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Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
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Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
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03-18-24, 11:39 AM
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Go for it. You obviously have vast experience with it. On the other hand, you are very much wrong. Acetone easily removes paint. I have some in my garage and have used it recently to do just that. Oh, and i painted my first car over 40 years ago. If you wish to use acetone to wipe down a frame before applying a decal, or sticker, go for it. I personally do not recommend it. I also do not know why I felt compelled to click to view your post, as I have you on ignore due to the amount of misinformation you tend to spew under the guise of, "knowledge."
03-18-24, 12:19 PM
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