Steel Frame Protection.

Steve1200S · Post by **Steve1200S** » Mon Jun 03, 2013 8:43 am

Ok, I know it's not a motobike question, but I'm guessing the engineering knowledge on here will be better than on any MTB site....

I've just bought a new steel frame and forks to build my old mountain bike up on to. It's 4130 steel, and will be set up for trekking and commuting, so will see the worst of the winter weather and salt.

The frame is untreated on the inside. I'm not sure it really needs it (opinion differs depending on who you ask), but I've never had a steel frame and I'd like to protect the inside of it to keep it as rust free as possible.

Question is, what to use?
I have ACF50, and was intending to use that, but is there anything better?
I've heard waxol mentioned in the past, but there are apparently problems with it melting in hot weather and running out the frame......

Maybe ACF50 on the bare metal, then a wax coating?

Any advice will be appreciated!

Cheers in advance,
Steve.

Herb · Post by **Herb** » Mon Jun 03, 2013 9:24 am

ACF50 or FS365 would be my choice.

Both products would leave a near invisible residue helping prevent corrosion, but will not cause the problems you mention with Waxoyl.

I think I would favour FS365 of the 2. Give the frame a good spray, and then leave it for a few days for the water to properly evaporate before building up the bike.

tanneman · Post by **tanneman** » Mon Jun 03, 2013 10:24 am

FS365 washes off. ACF50 is recommended. It has been tested and proved and in widespread use in the aircraft industry. That is unless you want the sticky brown stuff they use then you'll need a mate in the aircraft maintenance side.

dave the german · Post by **dave the german** » Mon Jun 03, 2013 2:14 pm

I worked in a bike shop years ago and seem to remember some "stuff" they used - try a search on chain reaction or bike radar. Might come up with something - just built new carbon fibre bike up some that won't be a problem for me

I just need new legs!!!!

nab 301 · Post by **nab 301** » Mon Jun 03, 2013 8:17 pm

A quick google brought up something unusual!
http://www.mechanicsupport.com/aircraft_tube.html

Steve1200S · Post by **Steve1200S** » Mon Jun 03, 2013 9:23 pm

Interesting.... Boiled linseed oil is also the favoured lube for spoke nipples among many wheel builders.

Think I'm going to go with ACF Dow the tubes, then make sure I use plenty of Corrosion Block (ACF50) grease in the bottom bracket. That should hopefully help delay any rusting.

dave the german · Post by **dave the german** » Tue Jun 04, 2013 4:21 am

you learn something every day! Never heard of the boiled linseed oil as a nipple lube (waits for the comments to come). Always used grease. There's a product called Spoke Freeze developed with Locktite and DT Swiss spokes - costs about £29 for a Loctite size bottle!! I've got a bottle in me toolbox but never used it - and me spokes have remained tight

Steve1200S · Post by **Steve1200S** » Tue Jun 04, 2013 6:58 am

Dave,

Thats why I use grease! The proper spoke stuff is way too expensive.

I'm building some wheels for the new frame (it's a 29er and I want to keep my Hope hubs), and against all advice I went with Ally nipples as I wanted anodised blue to match the hubs. I'm going to use the ACF grease and hopfully that'll stop any reaction welding the nipples in place.

dave the german · Post by **dave the german** » Wed Jun 05, 2013 1:37 am

Just built some Hopes for my new Kona - with the offset etc I ended up using the same spoke size for all 4 sides - that never happened in the past!! +1 against alloy nipples tho - they round too easily. Think I paid about £8 for Spoke Freeze - was gonna build some fixties up and tie and solder them then thought bugger that it's only gonna be used on the road so it would havew been BLOODY HARSH

Daveg2812 · Post by **Daveg2812** » Wed Jun 05, 2013 11:54 am

Do you fella's actually ride these things, or just build them

dave the german · Post by **dave the german** » Wed Jun 05, 2013 1:19 pm

Ride them? How very dare you!! they're ornaments!! - must dash - off out on the mountain bike

Steve1200S · Post by **Steve1200S** » Thu Jun 06, 2013 8:49 pm

200+ miles a week me! Well, 5 years ago that's what I was doing. Lucky to do 20 a week now! Too busy tearing around on the K.

timbox2 · Post by **timbox2** » Fri Jun 07, 2013 5:22 am

In a past life I used to build and sell High End Road and MTB's. I can never remember seeing or hearing about Frame failure due to corrosion on steel frames, 4130 or Reynolds 525/853 but I too would use ACF-50 if you want to protect it. You could speak to Argos Racing Cycles in Bristol, theyve been building steel custom frames for years and should be able to tell you, I used them to custom paint some of my frames and what they dont know............

dave the german · Post by **dave the german** » Fri Jun 07, 2013 4:05 pm

I do a bit more than 20 a week - round about 100ish but suffering from back and hip probs at the moment. went out yesterday and was stuffed big style by me mate - just didn't have any energy

Daveg2812 · Post by **Daveg2812** » Fri Jun 07, 2013 5:32 pm

20-30 is about my limit at the moment, all on an MTB, and tbh, its about all I can fit in. Makes me feel easier about drinking beer of an evening, and sometimes en route