After my last bike was stolen, I've been considering engraving "NEVER FOR SALE - #### ###" on the frame of my new bike in big letters - #### being my parents postcode that is many many miles away from Newcastle (in case there is a recumbent-stealing gang here that wants to know where I keep my bike).
My frame is Chro-Mo and the walls seem about 2mm thick. I planned to write on the boom as this is the most visible part, and because it should presumably be overbuilt to cope with the weak spot where the headset pierces it. Also the adjustable boom is doubled up for most of its length.
Do any of the engineers here reckon I would be likely to do much damage by engraving my bike? I only want to hurt its resale value.
After my last bike was stolen, I've been considering engraving "NEVER FOR SALE - #### ###" on the frame of my new bike in big letters - #### being my parents postcode that is many many miles away from Newcastle (in case there is a recumbent-stealing gang here that wants to know where I keep my bike).
My frame is Chro-Mo and the walls seem about 2mm thick. I planned to write on the boom as this is the most visible part, and because it should presumably be overbuilt to cope with the weak spot where the headset pierces it. Also the adjustable boom is doubled up for most of its length.
Do any of the engineers here reckon I would be likely to do much damage by engraving my bike? I only want to hurt its resale value.
Why not just paint it on? After all it would only take a few minutes to fill in the engraving and paint over it so the engraving is no more assured a deterrent than simple paint and you do not have to worry about engineering issues with paint.
After my last bike was stolen, I've been considering engraving "NEVER FOR SALE - #### ###" on the frame of my new bike in big letters - #### being my parents postcode that is many many miles away from Newcastle (in case there is a recumbent-stealing gang here that wants to know where I keep my bike).
My frame is Chro-Mo and the walls seem about 2mm thick. I planned to write on the boom as this is the most visible part, and because it should presumably be overbuilt to cope with the weak spot where the headset pierces it. Also the adjustable boom is doubled up for most of its length.
Do any of the engineers here reckon I would be likely to do much damage by engraving my bike? I only want to hurt its resale value.
Why not just paint it on?
I worried that someone might be able to remove it selectively with paint-stripper, as the council does with graffiti.
Quoted message said:
After all it would only take a few minutes to fill in the engraving and paint over it so the engraving is no more assured a deterrent than simple paint and you do not have to worry about engineering issues with paint.
My bike has a metallic finish underneath a lacquer coat and (I think) some sort of waxy covering on top - all rather nice. I think it would be quite hard to sand out any engraving then make the new coat match up.
I guess I could engrave out just the paint, leaving the metal intact.
My bike has a metallic finish underneath a lacquer coat and (I think) some sort of waxy covering on top - all rather nice. I think it would be quite hard to sand out any engraving then make the new coat match up.
Pop into Halfords. They have all sorts of stuff for filling in scratches on car bodywork and painting over the top. Scratches/engraving is no harder to fill and paint than paint is to remove. No need to sand it out.
My bike has a metallic finish underneath a lacquer coat and (I think) some sort of waxy covering on top - all rather nice. I think it would be quite hard to sand out any engraving then make the new coat match up.
Pop into Halfords. They have all sorts of stuff for filling in scratches on car bodywork and painting over the top. Scratches/engraving is no harder to fill and paint than paint is to remove. No need to sand it out.
Maybe this is why the police round here don't think it's worthwhile to offer free frame engraving any more (the PC I spoke to didn't know why they stopped).
I'll still paint the frame like you suggest. There's no harm in making bike thieves do at least a little work for their money.
