Spraying spokes

[Shearwater Missile]

Whilst truing the wheel the other day I noticed that the spokes are starting to lose the paint. It is only on the front Shimano, rear being OK. It just looks like lots of stone chips but I very much doubt that. I guess that the spokes are alloy as they have not turned to rust but just shiny spots. My guess is that they only had a very quick dusting of paint when new. I thought that I`d wait until the better weather and then give them a prep and respray with a satin finish. Has anyone resprayed spokes before ? It is not a big issue but I like them to look nice, only for me.

 

[wafter]

The spokes will likely be stainless and tbh given their shape, size and the horrors of prep I suspect you'd be on a hiding to nowt in trying to refinish them.

I have a similar issue on mine and despite my rampant OCD, this appears only to be a cosmetic issue so I've resolved to just let the paint degrade as the entropy of the universe sees fit.

 

[fossyant]

How bad are they ?

 

[Big John]

Well....at our bike charity we have been known to use a black marker pen. We don't hide the fact, by the way. The customers at our place aren't in the market for snazzy bikes so if we tidy their bike up a bit they're grateful. I'm not recommending this, please note, but as a quick fix it looks passable. Instead of a marker pen you could use one of the car touch up sticks. Not long term solution but a quick fix. Or replace the iffy spokes with new. Not a big job if you're a fettler.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Cannot imagine it being stone chips unless you are hearing pinging sounds most outings. Leave them be, unless spokes are failing.

 

[fossyant]

Sharpies are quite good. I've been known to touch up my MTB's rear wheel rim after getting attacked by rocks.

 

[Yellow Saddle]

Whilst truing the wheel the other day I noticed that the spokes are starting to lose the paint. It is only on the front Shimano, rear being OK. It just looks like lots of stone chips but I very much doubt that. I guess that the spokes are alloy as they have not turned to rust but just shiny spots. My guess is that they only had a very quick dusting of paint when new. I thought that I`d wait until the better weather and then give them a prep and respray with a satin finish. Has anyone resprayed spokes before ? It is not a big issue but I like them to look nice, only for me.

Painted spokes? Are you serious? Let's see a photo.

Yes, they are made of an alloy...called stainless steel. Iron, alloyed with carbon, chromium and nickel.

 

[richardfm]

If it was me and I was concerned I'd use Scotch-Brite to remove all of the paint.

 

[Shearwater Missile]

Painted spokes? Are you serious? Let's see a photo.

Yes, they are made of an alloy...called stainless steel. Iron, alloyed with carbon, chromium and nickel.

They probably are stainless steel then. I`ll try and get a picture in the morning. I had a Mavic wheel which had steel spokes and they certainly did look as if they had rusted after several years. These ones look as if the coating has come off in places, so not really a silly question, sorry if you think it is.

 

[Shearwater Missile]

How bad are they ?

Not that bad, I only noticed them up close. No big deal but just wondered.

 

[Shearwater Missile]

Cannot imagine it being stone chips unless you are hearing pinging sounds most outings. Leave them be, unless spokes are failing.

You are right about it not being stone chips, it just looks like the effect you get on a car windscreen after someone has just thrown up a lot of stones and then when the sun shines you see these points of light.