The paint on my top tube got chipped a while back. Can I put nail polish on it to cover it up?
I would go with paint if I were you. I may even be possible to get the paint from the manufacturer.
slightly offtopic, I use nail polish on the ends of cables on my bike so avoid putting on a crimped end
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The paint on my top tube got chipped a while back. Can I put nail polish on it to cover it up?
Yes, done all the time. Not to hard to color match either. Apply the paint with a wooden toothpick for most dings.
slightly offtopic, I use nail polish on the ends of cables on my bike so avoid putting on a crimped end
WTF is the reason for that???
Clear nail polish, or superglue enables you to not crimp an end cap on the cable - thus, the cable will not unwind and you can still remove it from the housing easily with out having a crimp that will ruin the teflon coating that is in most quality housings.
keeps the inner cables from unwinding like one of the crimps, but I still pull the cable through the outer cable without messing the the crimp…used to use super glue but this works just as well and isn’t as messy
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slightly offtopic, I use nail polish on the ends of cables on my bike so avoid putting on a crimped end
I use solder and then file it. No, I’m not anal about it :). If you choose to do this, first clean the end (after trimming), clip any loose ends, apply flux, heat, apply solder and let it suck up. Then take a file and file off all excess solder and point or round the end as you like.
Thread title was a total tease.
That just seems like way too much work for essentially the same thing.
I have soldered too…hey, in the winter when it is snowing what the hell other are you going to do? If I have to ride the trainer or braze my cables…wheres the torch?
Clear nail polish, or superglue enables you to not crimp an end cap on the cable - thus, the cable will not unwind and you can still remove it from the housing easily with out having a crimp that will ruin the teflon coating that is in most quality housings.
Doesn’t the part of the cable you clamp at the derailleur/brake flatten out thus also beating up your teflon coating?
Not if you do it properly - no. Not in the same way that you get at the end of the cable that is prone to fray.
I’ll have to give it a try.
The paint on my top tube got chipped a while back. Can I put nail polish on it to cover it up?
Yes, done all the time. Not to hard to color match either. Apply the paint with a wooden toothpick for most dings.
Is that how you’re suppose to do it? I never thought about how to apply it smoothly and thinly 
toothpaste is a very mild abrasive compound (very mild), if it’s just a fine scratch you might be able to soften it by rubbing some on and then keeping it shiny by applying GT-85 occasionally and when you clean it (after every ride? I hope so)
chocolate also works just in case you don’t have any toothpaste.
Though if you don’t have any toothpaste and a lot of chocolate to spare I’d suggest there may be something wrong!
To get back to your question, yes, nail polish works great for touch up. When I got my bright red Colnago frame the first thing I did was to take it to the beauty store and match it up with some nice nail polish for touch ups. I’ve only had one small chip after two years but it covered up perfectly.
Auto paint. Do some Internet search and you can most likely find an exact match. Run down to NAPA and have them order you a sample for $10 or so. You should have it in 48hrs. Good to go.
Not if you do it properly - no. Not in the same way that you get at the end of the cable that is prone to fray.
When changing cables I’ve always cut the cable a little way up from the crimped cap anyway, so any fraying of the cable end that might have been there is gone and I’m pulling a pretty “clean” cable end back through the housing.
I would have liked to be a fly on the wall the day you tried to decide whether your frame better matched Trophy Wife Red or Come to Bed Red.