Brunox Carbon Care Finishing Spray 100ml

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