Restoring Silca Impero color?
12-20-13, 03:36 PM
#26
Banned
There is a Brown Scotch brite pad, it has abrasive in it , I get it at the hardware store.
Mine is a Marine supply , lots of brass to cleanup on boats.
Mine is a Marine supply , lots of brass to cleanup on boats.
12-20-13, 06:00 PM
#28
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Seattle
Posts: 1,085
Bikes: Frejus/Bertin/Cannondale
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Hey, that's exactly like mine, that has BOTTECCHIA in plain block letters stamped in. It has just a hint of that fading going on, around the edges. But my every day Silca is a bright green, almost day-glo bright, but probably pre-dated day-glo, LOL. I figured it's great for the Italian Frejus, plus helps my being slightly more visible to cars. 
04-22-24, 04:31 PM
#29
Junior Member
Acetone will take a layer of plastic off ... plastic! Be careful because it will also remove logos, etc., i wouldn't give the pump more than 4-5 wipes before moving to a new location! I have turned some "Carlton" brake lever hoods into "" brake lever hoods this way, by mistake!
04-22-24, 07:20 PM
#30
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,668
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1250 Post(s)
Liked 1,334 Times
in
681 Posts
Acetone will take a layer of plastic off ... plastic! Be careful because it will also remove logos, etc., i wouldn't give the pump more than 4-5 wipes before moving to a new location! I have turned some "Carlton" brake lever hoods into "" brake lever hoods this way, by mistake!
04-22-24, 08:59 PM
#31
Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: St Louis Park MN
Posts: 174
Bikes: Mead Ranger '24- Armstrong 3sp '64 Follis 172 '74 Centurian Accordo 80's Mercian '85 Mark Zeh road '86 Kona Explosif '93 Merkx Ti AX '97 Santana Arriva tandem '99 Bike Friday tandem
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 39 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 31 Times
in
23 Posts
Do we now have to have "period correct" quotes to go with our "period correct" componentry? 
To the OP - the answer is paint. Many frame painters, then and now, would paint Silca pump bodies to match the frame.
The pump barrel itself is plastic - and no, that is not a euphemism for carbon fiber. It's the finest plastic that 1960's or 1970's materials science could produce, which means it absorbs stains and gets dull and stuff like that. Personally, i would not let any kind of solvent near it as I have no clue how any solvent would react with the plastic. I'm not so much concerned about fumes as I am weakening the plastic or making it brittle or otherwise compromising its structural integrity.
Finally, I loves me my Silca pumps, and have them adorning a couple of my bikes because a matching Silca pump looks so kewl, but let's face it - Zefal HPs work significantly better and are much more durable.
To the OP - the answer is paint. Many frame painters, then and now, would paint Silca pump bodies to match the frame.
The pump barrel itself is plastic - and no, that is not a euphemism for carbon fiber. It's the finest plastic that 1960's or 1970's materials science could produce, which means it absorbs stains and gets dull and stuff like that. Personally, i would not let any kind of solvent near it as I have no clue how any solvent would react with the plastic. I'm not so much concerned about fumes as I am weakening the plastic or making it brittle or otherwise compromising its structural integrity.
Finally, I loves me my Silca pumps, and have them adorning a couple of my bikes because a matching Silca pump looks so kewl, but let's face it - Zefal HPs work significantly better and are much more durable.
04-23-24, 06:50 AM
#32
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Maryland, USA
Posts: 2,453
Bikes: Drysdale/Gitane/Zeus/Masi/Falcon/Palo Alto/Raleigh/Legnano
Mentioned: 34 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 988 Post(s)
Liked 656 Times
in
414 Posts
I painted one a couple of years ago and, when I needed replace the washer, the outer tube crumbled at the threads. Perhaps just old... or did the paint affect the plastic? Or both?
__________________
Larry:1958 Drysdale, 1961 Gitane Gran Sport, 1974 Zeus track, 1988 Masi Gran Corsa, 1974 Falcon, 1980 Palo Alto, 1973 Raleigh Gran Sport, 1974 Legnano. Susan: 1976 Windsor Profesional.
Larry:1958 Drysdale, 1961 Gitane Gran Sport, 1974 Zeus track, 1988 Masi Gran Corsa, 1974 Falcon, 1980 Palo Alto, 1973 Raleigh Gran Sport, 1974 Legnano. Susan: 1976 Windsor Profesional.
04-23-24, 02:15 PM
#33
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Concord, NC
Posts: 706
Bikes: 1984 Bianchi Tipo Corsa, 1985 Cannondale SM600 (24/26)
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 237 Post(s)
Liked 352 Times
in
191 Posts
I don't know how practical this would be but.... I've seen some restoration videos ( if it's on the interwebs it HAS to be true) where previously white plastic is placed in hydrogen peroxide and then put under UV light.
Maybe sunlight would work if left long enough???
Maybe sunlight would work if left long enough???
Likes For CO_Hoya:
