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Brunox Carbon Care Finishing Spray 100ml

7
£4.99

VERDICT:

7
10
Effective multi surface polish/protectant, although some claims difficult to judge outside of laboratory environments
Weight: 
0g
Contact: 
www.brunox.co.uk

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

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According to the blurb, Brunox Carbon Care not only cleans, polishes and repels dust but also displaces harmful humidity, which is damaging to the epoxy resin and therefore component integrity- fork failure can prove fatal after all, but then again we've never seen any warnings about not riding your carbon bike in the rain or indeed about taking it in the sauna.

Carbon Care is by no means a one trick pony, the formula works a treat on aluminium, magnesium, and enamel/ two-Pac finishes too. Playing devil's advocate, good quality furniture polishes achieve similar cosmetic results while the protective qualities are difficult to measure outside of laboratory conditions and/or prolonged, four season's testing. It's a tricky one as to whether £4.99 is a lot to pay or not for the peace of mind of using a dedicated carbon polish - a 400ml tin of pledge costs between £6.50 - £8.50 depending on whether you go for the 'natural' or 'professional' versions.

Carbon doesn't corrode or degrade in the commonly accepted sense that metals do but since you're just as likely to find it on winter hacks as thoroughbred race mounts these days; the ravages of road salt, slush and everyday grime become an issue. Common to Coca Cola, Brunox give little away as to the ingredients, other than saying the formula contains no silicone, PTFE or acids and uses Isoparaffine as the propellant.

To use, wash and dry the bike(s) thoroughly before setting aside some clean, lint free rag. Shake the Carbon pflege for thirty seconds or so and spray in short bursts from a distance of 10-15centimetres onto forks/frames/components and wipe clean. This will remove any ingrained/prevailing dirt and makes spotting hairline cracks or similar traces of fatigue much easier. Once you're satisfied everything is clean,spray a second round into a fresh rag and buff to a brilliant, glossy sheen.

Being a protectant, it doesn't remove traces of light oxidisation like hard paste polymer car waxes do but still knocks silicone based products into a cocked hat on every level. Riding extensively without mudguards through a wet, muggy summer, there's been no telltale streaking, grunge and only the faintest evidence of road grime along the inner fork blades, crown, bottom bracket and chainstays. Funnily enough the barrier qualities come into their own on plated and polished surfaces, which is great news for older framesets and components without a clear lacquer topcoat.

Verdict

Effective multi surface polish/protectant, although some claims difficult to judge outside of laboratory environments

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Brunox Carbon Care finishing spray

Size tested: 125ml

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

"For ultimate care and maintenance of carbon fibre and aluminium parts.

Cleans, polishes, displaces humidity, repels dust and dirt

 

The essential after care product for all carbon fibre and aluminium components. Returning precision components and panels back to their pristine state after pro longed use or contamination with oils, tars and other difficult residues. Simply remove excess with warm soapy water then allow to dry. Simply spray or add to clean cloth and gently buff the component. You will be really amazed at the high gloss results.

For the finest shine and continued resistance to dust and dirt, use Carbon Care. Great for aluminium and other metals. Totally neutral to plastic, leather and rubber.". Generally agree on the strength of short-term testing.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

125ml aerosol no silicone, PTFE or acids...

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
7/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
7/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
7/10
Rate the product for value:
 
6/10

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Leaves behind a brilliant glossy all-surface sheen that seems highly resistant to road spray/contaminant. However, I'm going to give the benefit of the doubt when it comes to carbon specific protection.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Leaves all finishes positively gleaming and seems loglived too.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Nothing

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Quite possibly

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Anything further to say about the product in conclusion?

Judging by the Holdsworth, presently hibernating in the workshop awaiting frame repair, the carbon pfledge should keep season specific mounts protected and pre-ride prep to the bare minimum, of course the Holdsworth isn't carbon

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 37  Height: 1m 81  Weight: 70 kilos

I usually ride: Rough Stuff Tourer Based around 4130 Univega mtb Frameset  My best bike is: 1955 Holdsworth Road Path and several others including cross & traditional road

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: cyclo cross, commuting, touring, fixed/singlespeed, mtb,

Shaun Audane is a freelance writer/product tester with over twenty-eight years riding experience, the last twelve (120,000 miles) spent putting bikes and kit through their paces for a variety of publications. Previous generations of his family worked at manufacturing's sharp end, thus Shaun can weld, has a sound understanding of frame building practice and a preference for steel or titanium framesets.
Citing Richard Ballantine and an Au pair as his earliest cycling influences, he is presently writing a cycling book with particular focus upon women, families and disabled audiences (Having been a registered care manager and coached children at Herne Hill Velodrome in earlier careers)

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