Rub N Buff

[JamesH]

Very intrigued to see the results from this rubbing and buffing. My only concern is how durable the finish is going to be - only way to tell is to try it. Let us know the collective feedback as you all progressively rub and buff...

[AshimotoK0]

Arrived Friday .... that was quick delivery ! Interestingly ...  it was shipped as  contents 'nail varnish'. Will report back when I have 'had a go' on my CD175A sloper carb.

[Orcade-Ian]

I understand James' concern about the durability of the finish but friend Leslie has been using this for some time now and I have seen his BM regularly but never thought to ask why it looked so good as all of his bikes are pristine.
I'm getting close to finishing this spare set of carbs and will post a pic when they are done but very impressed so far.
When these bikes were new, the carbs had no protective coating at all - how long did that last if left out in the elements?
Being cast, the grain boundaries in the metal allow the ingress of moisture into the first layers of molecules allowing the oxides to form.  Hopefully (!) the very thin layer of carnauba wax should form a barrier to this oxidation and the silver tint is really perhaps just 'bullshit in a tube'

I'm sure Ash - with his background will have thoughts on this.  I'm too old now to do a head to head test with a new carb untreated, one with carnauba wax applied with a toothbrush and one with Rub N Buff, all left out in the Orkney salt spray cabinet!

Ian

[K2-K6]

Arrived Friday .... that was quick delivery ! Interestingly ...  it was shipped as  cnents 'nail varnish'. Will report back when I have 'had a go' on my CD175A sloper carb.

Seems most like lipstick in product match,  but with addition of turpentine. 

A bit of "lippy" for your carbs sir 

[AshimotoK0]

Very intrigued to see the results from this rubbing and buffing. My only concern is how durable the finish is going to be - only way to tell is to try it. Let us know the collective feedback as you all progressively rub and buff...

Sadly, I don't think anything will restore that lovely iridescent finish you had on Keihin carbs originally James.   

[mickwinf]

ok so i too ordered some, and it arrived today. I had a little play and experimented on a few items. This is now my new favorite product! First i tried it on an old carb body, used a tiny amount and rubbed it in. For the awkward corners i used an old paintbrush and it covered well and looks good, maybe even a bit too blingy but does what it says on the tin (tube!) also tried on some alloy parts, a caliper and bracket and a engine cover, again decent result even though i did not prepare the surface first. I then had another idea, on my kickstart and my brake lever there were some rusty marks where they rubbed together so i used the rub and buff, and found that it disguised the marks very well, and if you keep buffing it does shine the metal too. So i thought i will try a really rusty item, and found a chrome chain guard which is very rusty. I gave it a quick rub with wire wool first then with rub and buff. Obviously will not get rid of rust but did improve a lot. I think i may order some more colours and try on other things, all in all i recommend the product.

[mickwinf]

more pics

[mickwinf]

more, last pic shows a rear light base, the rh half has been treated and you can see it covers the small line of rust in the corner.

[Orcade-Ian]

Hi Mick,
Glad you have found uses for it - most folk who try it seem more than pleased with the results.  As Ash rightly says, it's never going to produce the iridescence that you see on a brand new Keihin carb, but no other treatment does either!  As with any applied finish, be it paint, chrome, zinc or polished alloy, the initial prep is so important.
Just tried it on a 15mm copper pipe on our towel rail - copper colour gone - shiny, almost chrome finish now!
Ian

[mickwinf]

mine was very thick straight out the tube, used a rice grain size on a rag and just worked it in, then a tiny amount on the tip of a painbrush to get in the odd corners. I did buff with a clean rag afterwards. There are some you tube vids.

[Orcade-Ian]

Oddjob,
An old toothbrush works the best for me and would avoid using fingers to prevent skin oils being put on the surface - perhaps why you didn't get good coverage?  I put a tiny dab on the end of the brush and work that all over the part, back and forth up and down and in all the little crevices.  I keep at that till everywhere is covered and keep brushing for a while after.  A few minutes later I just rub with a soft cloth. Try not to get it on anything you don't want colouring - it's a bugger to get off!

Ian

[mike the bike]

I didn't have an old toothbrush so I used my lad's one. He now looks like Jaws in a James Bond film.  He hasn't noticed yet though.

[K2-K6]

I may have made a mistake trying the old carb top, I was polishing it with a new accessory from Dremel and using buffing soap as well, it may be the soap was impregnated into the alloy and stopping the RubNBuff from attaching, it went very streaky in the end which would sort of confirm this theory. I'll have a go at something else and see how it comes out.

Try washing it with neat washing up liquid to see if it'll take after that. Specifically designed as degreasant and may strip it sufficiently to help.

Also why it shouldn't ordinarily be used on vehicles as it strips waxing, or double glazing materials (often advised) where it does the same.  Use car products to wash your windows. I know it's a wierd connection  but useful.

[K2-K6]

I didn't have an old toothbrush so I used my lad's one. He now looks like Jaws in a James Bond film.  He hasn't noticed yet though.

 

[MrDavo]

How does it fare when it meets brake cleaner or petrol?

I guess it could be an issue of your freshly shiny carb has any sort of fuel leak (or ticklers like old Amal carbs!).

By the way I get triggered by single letters standing in for words, I blame Rock 'n Roll for that slippery slope, Toys 'R Us deserved to go under just for grammar abuse.