DIY chain stay protectors ALU foil tape, a step-by-step
#1
Stop reading my posts!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 12,580
Mentioned: 89 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1443 Post(s)
Liked 1,061 Times
in
786 Posts
DIY chain stay protectors ALU foil tape, a step-by-step
Some folks expressed interest when I mentioned that I stooped to making my own "homebrew" substitute chain stay protecteors, to fill the void left since nobody sells the Classic/Vintage thick stainless steel PSA jobs we recall from BITD.
I have a step-by-step with this thread so you can make your own from adhesive aluminum foil tape (know as HVAC tape in the trade) just as I do.
These are so simple a child can do it, as long as such a child can handle an Xacto style knife and scissors.
The tape produces a reasonable facsimile to the original SS items, and you have the advantage of making them larger or smaller to best fit YOUR chainstays...BUT the material is not as shiny or as durable!
For more durability I have double-layered these but even then it's a much softer and thinner metal, no way around that fact.
Let's start: I have a few rolls of HVAC tape, I find it varies slightly in thickness so if you have a choice go for some that's 4-mil rather than 3.4 to 3.6-mil.
I see that there's a "Reinforced HVAC" tape with fiberglass strands embedded, I have not used any but it MIGHT be a more durable material.
The stuff I have is (nominally) 2" wide with a peel-off carrier backing paper and strong Pressure Sensitive Adhesive (PSA) under that backing.
for this demo I used a Stay Tuff plastic item for my template, below is a roll of the 2" 4-mil HVAC tape
taped to a cutting board, Stay Tuff aligned with one edge, you can get 2 out of one 2" wide piece, so why not?
one traced with a Sharpie, the ink wipes off later with any alcohol
second traced.
both cut with ruler/straight edge and Xacto knife, but rounded ends not yet cut...
...cause I cut the curves with scissors, easier to control
Here's the chain stay on a Univega for this demo, it's cleaned with alcohol but paint is chipped so final result will not be ideally smooth
backing paper peeled off and lined up on the stay, only the center of the tape is stuck down at first. I smooth that strip with any smooth plastic tool at hand, ideal tool is a "bone folder" but for this I used a paint brush handle
then work the rest of the tape down I do the top edge from center outward, then the bottom edge, to minimize getting wrinkles; smooth and "burnish" with the tool
final results: it's not as smooth as stainless since any irregularity under the tape will show, but...da ya go!
I have a step-by-step with this thread so you can make your own from adhesive aluminum foil tape (know as HVAC tape in the trade) just as I do.
These are so simple a child can do it, as long as such a child can handle an Xacto style knife and scissors.
The tape produces a reasonable facsimile to the original SS items, and you have the advantage of making them larger or smaller to best fit YOUR chainstays...BUT the material is not as shiny or as durable!
For more durability I have double-layered these but even then it's a much softer and thinner metal, no way around that fact.
Let's start: I have a few rolls of HVAC tape, I find it varies slightly in thickness so if you have a choice go for some that's 4-mil rather than 3.4 to 3.6-mil.
I see that there's a "Reinforced HVAC" tape with fiberglass strands embedded, I have not used any but it MIGHT be a more durable material.
The stuff I have is (nominally) 2" wide with a peel-off carrier backing paper and strong Pressure Sensitive Adhesive (PSA) under that backing.
for this demo I used a Stay Tuff plastic item for my template, below is a roll of the 2" 4-mil HVAC tape
taped to a cutting board, Stay Tuff aligned with one edge, you can get 2 out of one 2" wide piece, so why not?
one traced with a Sharpie, the ink wipes off later with any alcohol
second traced.
both cut with ruler/straight edge and Xacto knife, but rounded ends not yet cut...
...cause I cut the curves with scissors, easier to control
Here's the chain stay on a Univega for this demo, it's cleaned with alcohol but paint is chipped so final result will not be ideally smooth
backing paper peeled off and lined up on the stay, only the center of the tape is stuck down at first. I smooth that strip with any smooth plastic tool at hand, ideal tool is a "bone folder" but for this I used a paint brush handle
then work the rest of the tape down I do the top edge from center outward, then the bottom edge, to minimize getting wrinkles; smooth and "burnish" with the tool
final results: it's not as smooth as stainless since any irregularity under the tape will show, but...da ya go!
Last edited by unworthy1; 09-06-22 at 07:25 PM.
Likes For unworthy1:
#2
Senior Member
Good job!
I've often wondered (and I am a complete biking novice) if applying a thin layer of rubber cement in that location would work as well.
Would/could it? I'm no weight weenie.
I've often wondered (and I am a complete biking novice) if applying a thin layer of rubber cement in that location would work as well.
Would/could it? I'm no weight weenie.
#4
SE Wis
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Posts: 10,509
Bikes: '68 Raleigh Sprite, '02 Raleigh C500, '84 Raleigh Gran Prix, '91 Trek 400, 2013 Novara Randonee, 1990 Trek 970
Mentioned: 40 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2744 Post(s)
Liked 3,390 Times
in
2,053 Posts
Still a few around.
https://defietsenmaker.nl/product/ca...num-one-piece/
https://defietsenmaker.nl/product/ch...m-the-mid-80s/
https://defietsenmaker.nl/product/ca...num-one-piece/
https://defietsenmaker.nl/product/ch...m-the-mid-80s/
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 17,155
Mentioned: 481 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3808 Post(s)
Liked 6,683 Times
in
2,609 Posts
Still a few around.
https://defietsenmaker.nl/product/ca...num-one-piece/
https://defietsenmaker.nl/product/ch...m-the-mid-80s/
https://defietsenmaker.nl/product/ca...num-one-piece/
https://defietsenmaker.nl/product/ch...m-the-mid-80s/
#6
Veteran, Pacifist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Seattle area
Posts: 13,328
Bikes: Bikes??? Thought this was social media?!?
Mentioned: 284 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3898 Post(s)
Liked 4,831 Times
in
2,229 Posts
I need such a nice chainstay protector, but with the letters
Y o u r B I k e S u c k s
and since I'm not as fast as I used to be, make that one for the left chainstay, too.
Y o u r B I k e S u c k s
and since I'm not as fast as I used to be, make that one for the left chainstay, too.
__________________
Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
#7
Stop reading my posts!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 12,580
Mentioned: 89 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1443 Post(s)
Liked 1,061 Times
in
786 Posts
Still a few around.
https://defietsenmaker.nl/product/ca...num-one-piece/
https://defietsenmaker.nl/product/ch...m-the-mid-80s/
https://defietsenmaker.nl/product/ca...num-one-piece/
https://defietsenmaker.nl/product/ch...m-the-mid-80s/
I already have that (albeit much thinner)
I also sincerely doubt that Campagnolo gave a license for use of their brand on these, but it's not any of my business. I should add I have no proof just my suspicion cause I found many similar examples years back from Chinese vendors (AliExpess and such) that were identical aside from the different embossed brands/logos
My only caveat re: the Minouras would be if the PSA is still good after nearly 40 years storage, but if it's dried out there are many double-stick tapes and films available to fix that.
Thanks again.
Last edited by unworthy1; 09-07-22 at 11:16 AM.
#9
Senior Member
In case you did not know, what you have there is the REAL DEAL. It's The one, The only, the BEST, The original,...DUCT Tape.
#10
Disraeli Gears
Etymology (& purity of language) alert: It's not "duct tape" but "duck tape" properly. Any HVAC contractor who knows anything at all wouldn't use "duck tape" for ducts, though I imagine that's how the usage was corrupted.
EDIT: to stay on topic, please note that stainless steel tape (4 mil) is indeed a thing -- https://www.mcmaster.com/tape/stainl...eel-foil-tape/
About a buck-fifty a foot for 1" wide. Stainless is of course a lot harder than aluminum, so I don't know how "cuttable" it is.
EDIT: to stay on topic, please note that stainless steel tape (4 mil) is indeed a thing -- https://www.mcmaster.com/tape/stainl...eel-foil-tape/
About a buck-fifty a foot for 1" wide. Stainless is of course a lot harder than aluminum, so I don't know how "cuttable" it is.
Last edited by Charles Wahl; 09-07-22 at 08:25 PM.
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 17,155
Mentioned: 481 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3808 Post(s)
Liked 6,683 Times
in
2,609 Posts
Etymology (& purity of language) alert: It's not "duct tape" but "duck tape" properly. Any HVAC contractor who knows anything at all wouldn't use "duck tape" for ducts, though I imagine that's how the usage was corrupted.
#12
Stop reading my posts!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 12,580
Mentioned: 89 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1443 Post(s)
Liked 1,061 Times
in
786 Posts
EDIT: to stay on topic, please note that stainless steel tape (4 mil) is indeed a thing -- https://www.mcmaster.com/tape/stainl...eel-foil-tape/
About a buck-fifty a foot for 1" wide. Stainless is of course a lot harder than aluminum, so I don't know how "cuttable" it is.
About a buck-fifty a foot for 1" wide. Stainless is of course a lot harder than aluminum, so I don't know how "cuttable" it is.
ANYthing can be cut with the proper blade, IMO.
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 3,448
Mentioned: 33 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 874 Post(s)
Liked 2,287 Times
in
1,278 Posts
We used to call it 100 mile an hour tape because it was so sticky . I recently bought some from a refrigeration guy to use when I replaced the cooling unit on my refrigerator for my motor home . It is what is used on ducting not the cloth type tape. I had some ducting put in at my shop for my dust collector (grind shop) and they used the aluminum type not the cloth stuff.
#14
Extraordinary Magnitude
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Waukesha WI
Posts: 13,646
Bikes: 1978 Trek TX700; 1978/79 Trek 736; 1984 Specialized Stumpjumper Sport; 1984 Schwinn Voyageur SP; 1985 Trek 620; 1985 Trek 720; 1986 Trek 400 Elance; 1987 Schwinn High Sierra; 1990 Miyata 1000LT
Mentioned: 84 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2608 Post(s)
Liked 1,699 Times
in
935 Posts
You can milk anything with nipples.
__________________
*Recipient of the 2006 Time Magazine "Person Of The Year" Award*
Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Maryland
Posts: 3,799
Bikes: Lots of English 3-speeds, a couple of old road bikes, 3 mountain bikes, 1 hybrid, and a couple of mash-ups
Mentioned: 53 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 887 Post(s)
Liked 335 Times
in
225 Posts
I made a chainstay protector with fiberglas reinforced HVAC tape some years ago. It works great, but it isn't pretty - you can see the netting.
Likes For dweenk:
Likes For dweenk:
#18
Newbie
That's a great idea.. Thanks for sharing/posting..
On my Univega, the PO wrapped some ugly black electrical tape that is an eyesore but now I have an alternative to try.. Thanks..
On my Univega, the PO wrapped some ugly black electrical tape that is an eyesore but now I have an alternative to try.. Thanks..
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Madison, WI USA
Posts: 6,154
Mentioned: 50 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2363 Post(s)
Liked 1,749 Times
in
1,191 Posts
That HVAC tape might actually look "right" on the right kind of rough & ready frame, like a Diamond Back Overdrive Comp, et al.