ccinnz

Hi All

I've noticed a chip/graze on the underside of my crossbar. Photos below. The flash maybe makes it look a little worse than it is!

I'm 99.99% sure this hasn't gone through to the carbon fabric, and is just in the clear coat and resin over.

Looking for some advise on repair.

My first thought is to use Araldite, a 2 part structural epoxy glue over the whole area and just leave it.

Any advice greatly appreciated

Thanks

C

Mr. 66

I don't know carbon bikes, but that looks like you cloud clear coat and buff, or just polish.

curbtender

I was going to make the same point. Clean it with alcohol then seal it with clear nail polish. You might want to try a mild abrasive polish first to level it out.

DaveSSS 

Clean with acetone, then apply nail polish. If the nail polish application isn't perfect, wipe it off with acetone and try again. If you're skilled enough a little wet sanding with small piece of rolled up 1500 grit and then some fine buffing compound to make it shine.

ccinnz

Thanks for your responses... very helpful

Mosman

I have something like this but don't know if it's deep or not

ljsense

I'd vote for epoxy of some kind, any that cures clear. Carbon and epoxy are like peas in a pod. You could just use the 5 minute stuff. Any clear epoxy is going to do the job better than nail polish.

Any time someone recommends nail polish for a bike, I look at my daughter's fingers. If it could stay on perfectly until her nails just grew all of it off, I'd vote for it. The stuff chips off in a hurry.

xiaoman1 

O.P.
I believe nail polish on a bike works fine to seal small imperfections. I have been using it on my bikes for years, when the area is cleaned and prepped well I have not had any paint loss with my application.
A high-quality NP ( not the $1.00 a bottle stuff) in my opinion holds up better than the spray from an aerosol can...a bike frame does not see the rigors of constant abrasion that hands do through every day.
If you are really worried use the clear epoxy that was recommended.
JMO, Ben

michael432000

Any thoughts on this one?

WizardOfBoz

Micheal, is that an actual hole that goes into the interior of the tube?

If so, I'd have it fixed professionally.

michael432000

Hi WizardOfBoz. No it’s a small surface abrasion slightly through into the carbon.

WizardOfBoz

I think for something that small, the methodology above is probably good. Clean (I'd use isopropanol, but epoxy should be able to withstand acetone) and use clear nail polish. Or clear epoxy. I suspect that this chip does not rise to the level of needing to add CF matrix into the epoxy but I guess you could. It'd be a bit ungainly, though.

I would put something on it to prevent wear rubbing the thing so that it becomes bigger.

bikeaddiction1

If you have not hit the fibers the structural integrity of the frame has not been compromised. What you are doing is sealing the damaged are and restoring the cosmetics. The recommended repairs above are fine.