To Lacquer or Not to Lacquer That Is the Question...

Let me preface this with the fact that I'm not a great bike polisher, polish it while building but then just ride the bugger and give it the occaissional wash.

Quite a few of the bits that are going onto the Bob are anodized and getting scabby so I'll likely strip them and others are unlacquered tarnished alluminium.

I'm planning to strip and polish most of them, but my dilemma is whether on not to give them a rattle can coat of lacquer? Polished unlacquered bits will of course tarnish, but lacquered bits could eventually yellow and or chip/flake.

What have you peeps done?

if you lacquer you will have to remove all grease/dirt/polish residue from the metal, otherwise it will not last longer. maybe see armourtec if they do a clear powder coat or get coated in a shiny grey.

powder coat will not bond properly to a polished finish, brushed finish aluminium is fair game though. I know a few people with polished aluminium car wheels and they clean them weekly and give them a good spray with WD40 of a good coat of a wax based polish. will aluminium take chroming if you want to keep them shiny?

Its a cost issue on the chrome and I def don't want to powdercoat the bits. I don't actually mind ally when it gets that pale grey tarnish look, its only when it gets pitted on snowy that I hate it. Maybe I just give them a good waxing whenever I wash...

you cannot chrome aluminium, if you go bare and polish, you'll have to keep polishing it, otherwise it will pit and tarnish pretty quickly.

Hmmmm :(

polish then clear coat (not lacquer)

What is the difference between a clear coat and lacquer? Excuse my dimmness.

I had my frame and forks polished, then clear lacquered so as to prevent oxidisation. Pretty new, but it looks like it has worked.
The chaps who polished it said that they could chrome it if I wanted- even though it is aluminium.
I can shoot you the details if you want?