I'm using some Rub 'n Buff to tidy up the disc carriers on a couple of older discs.
This picture shows the original tarnish on one, and after cleaning with scotchbrite and Simple Green metal cleaner on the other.
You can see in this picture how the stuff massaged into the metal changes the appearance. An old toothbrush or q tips would get into the tight bits.
The back of the carrier was almost black with years of untouched road grime. Same treatment with the cleaning, then a finger tip worth of the Rub 'n Buff massaged into the metal and voila!
Leave it a while to dry, then do as it says...buff. The more you buff the shinier it gets. It really feels like it just absorbs into the metal, and it spreads so easily that a tiny dab goes a long way. Amazing stuff.
The stuff is a wax and comes in a tube as long as your thumb. It'll cover 20 sq. ft. It seems to melt into the metal as you rub it in with your finger.
Tubes are available for $5-10 depending on where you find it. They're commonly sold in craft shops. You'd be after the Silver leaf, not the pewter.
Crikey, Steve. You've spent all those years, all that money on parts and fuel and tyres and those thousands of hours of riding to get some decent patina on the bike and then go and destroy it all in a few minutes.
It does look like pretty good stuff.
Charlie
and Brunhilde - 1974 R90/6
Graduate, Wallace and Gromit School of Engineering and Design (Pending)
Airbear wrote:Crikey, Steve. You've spent all those years, all that money on parts and fuel and tyres and those thousands of hours of riding to get some decent patina on the bike and then go and destroy it all in a few minutes.
It does look like pretty good stuff.
What's patina?
My rear disc is warped. Seeing as the rear is mostly a steadier, as opposed to a primary brake, I decided to use another I had just lying around to see for myself if this Rub 'n Buff is any good. It's now mounted on the wheel and will go back on tonight after I replace the 4 shaft drive nuts. Not before I sort out any more "patina" in and around the rear m/c and inside the frame bracket etc.
I s'pose it works along the same method as GSPD's rubbing aluminium coloured paint onto the surface, by filling in the small convolutions in the surface of the metal. Longevity of the finish is a bit unknown, but I have read that another bloke is still happy with the trans on his bike after two years. If it does that then it can't be too bad.
The only other bit I'm tempted to do is the final drive. If I do that, that's where I'll stop. Promise
Looks really nice. It might even be a nice product on cases, to get a nice clean, waxed, finish, without smoothing/polishing the finish. It certainly made that carrier look like new.
Do be careful about getting a "wax" product on the discs themselves.
Been using, and recommending Rub'n Buff for years. First heard of it among the Guzzi guys who were always trying to get their engine cases looking other than grim. It works even better on the finer castings found on BMWs. Short of vapour blasting the cases this will make any alloy components - engine, gearbox, final drive and forklegs, look like new.
Moderation is the key and too much "buffing" can creat a highly polished appearance which is a bit naff, but doing like Steve does will get all your clean alloy to a similar colour and will keep it that way for a couple of years before reapplication is necessary.
My biggest mistake was to think that the tiny tubes wouldn't cover very well, so I bought half a dozen. Still got four unopened after using it on three bikes.
"Never argue with a fool, onlookers might not be able to tell the difference." Samuel Clemens
