FAQ – Waterford Precision Cycles

FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

Answer

(See below for more questions.)

Choosing Your Waterford

What do I need to do to prevent rust and corrosion?

For many bike buyers, the threat of corrosion is the main problem they have with buying a steel bike. Yet most people don\'t realize how little a problem it reaylly is, and how easily they can prevent nearly all corrosion on their steel bike frame.
Water can be good for a finish: Most people are surprised when they learn that fewer regular mountain bike riders suffer corrosion problems than road riders. Why? Because water often helps preserve the finish. The worst enemies of your paint job are sweat, road salt, sports drinks and sun. Abrasion with dirt is also an issue. By rinsing off the mud after off-road riding, mountain bikers are really protecting the bike from rust and abrasive damage.

Paint Curing: When you receive your frame, check to see how recently it was painted. It takes 30 days for the paint to fully cure. Curing means allowing the solvents in your finish to evaporate from the paint, which in turn allows to the polymers within your paint to form more protective bonds. It\'s better to leave the paint bare during this period. Also, your finish is most prone to chipping just after it\'s painted. As it cures, chip resistance improves.

Waxing: Once the paint has cured, applying the proper wax over your freshly cleaned surface protects your finish in three ways:

First, it provides a moisture barrier. Most people don\'t realize it, but even after curing, paint contains submicroscopic pores that can let water and corrosive agents eventually come in contact with the steel. Wax seals out the moisture and corrosive agents.
Second, it provides an abrasion barrier. Dust and dirt naturally collect on any surface. If you rub a dusty surface, you are abrading the finish - at least at a microscopic level. Wax provides a barrier between the paint and the outside world.
Finally, the better waxes include additives that protect the finish from the UV (ultraviolet) rays of the sun. UV damage embrittles the paint, fades the colors and can increase the size of the moisture transmitting pores. Wax eliminates this problem

What kind of wax? Use a carnauba-based wax with UV additives, such as Mequire\'s Tech Wax. Carnauba wax has proven to have the greatest ability to protect a finish of any wax available.

How do I prepare to apply wax? Wash your bike first to get rid of dust, dirt, lubricants and anything else that prevents the wax from getting to the paint:

Remove your water bottles and cables from the frame, so you can clean and wax underneath these parts. These areas are especially vulnerable to corrosion.
Use a gentle detergent like Simple Green or Dawn dish soap (in low concentration).
Rinse thoroughly with clear water.
Towel dry (with a cotton towel - not paper towels). Let the frame air dry for a half hour or so to get the residual moisture out of the paint and crevasses.

Now you\'re ready to apply wax.

Applying wax: Simply follow the wax manufacturer\'s instructions. This means typically applying the wax with a soft pad or cloth, wiping off the excess. You\'ll want to give it some time for it to dry - 15-30 minutes or so - before buffing. Buff with a soft cotton cloth to get the really nice shine.

What about the insides? Have your shop apply an internal rust protectant like Weigle\'s Framesaver. These applications will protect your internals for a couple of years. Then re-apply during your annual overhaul.

What if it rains? The problem isn\'t the rain as much a it is standing water inside the frame. To prevent this, drain the bike by hanging it by the front wheel (or holding the front wheel over the rear for 30 seconds or so until any water is drained out). The residual moisture will evaporate out the various drain holes on your frame.