957 aesthetic renovation

[ianc]

Am doing up the 957 to ride and race enduros etc this summer (including a solo 12hr attempt at my local race, the Bristol 12). As well as sorting it mechanically I want it looking good (at least for the start of the season, and so I can take a pic!). I've got a reccomendation of T-cut and lots of arm work for polishing the main slightly dull bare ally frame. I'm planning on using nail varnish remover (i.e. acetone) to take the stickers off the ally.

First question - will the same stuff, acetone, be safe to take the stickers off the carbon swingarm, or, being a solvent, will it dissolve the epoxy/glue/whatever, leaving a soggy mess of my swingarm? What should i use instead if its unsafe?

Second question - the 'seatstay' strut has paint chips and especially flakes missing all over. Instead of touching up the many flakes and chips with a slightly different colour, whats the best method for stripping and repainting it? I'm guessing nitromors followed by primer, colour and lacquer, anything work better?

Third question - any ideas other than T-cut for polishing the main frame?

Am considering getting the main frame powder coated at a later date, maybe next winter when the bike gets its annual winter 'mud' holiday. If I do, I'm hoping to get some super simple proflex and maybe 957 stickers made up to keep the whole thing clean looking.

Cheers,

Ian

ps - will post pics when its done!

[Simon]

First question - will the same stuff, acetone, be safe to take the stickers off the carbon swingarm, or, being a solvent, will it dissolve the epoxy/glue/whatever, leaving a soggy mess of my swingarm? What should i use instead if its unsafe?

I usually warm any stickers I wish to remove with a hair drier or with hot water,this loosens the glue and you just peel the stickers off,

Simon.

[Sprucey]

I Agree with Simon, go with heat first and then use a little acetone to remove any glue that's left.

As long as the carbon is completely cured then the acetone will not harm it but it will soften up any lacquer or varnish that is painted on it if you leave it in contact for some time.

Simply wiping off old glue, using it as tack rag to remove dust etc prior to painting when you then wipe it off should not harm the carbon/epoxy

Sprucey

[Nieuportpilot]

Try some orange degreaser called Desolvit (sp).  It will get rid of the glue and shouldn't hurt the finish.  

[Ionit]

Also Googone works after you get the stickers off.
Just don't use any chemical that your not sure about on Carbon. I used rubbing alcohol on my 4500 wich produced a white film on the frame. It wipped off but I was still freaked out when I saw it. For aluminm I think anything should work it is a pretty stable material.

I have some homemade proflex stickers laying around somwhere. I will post them as soon as I can put them online. They don't have the kind of flair that the stickers on the 957 have but they do have what I call "originality factor".

see ya.