[Ltspd]

I need some help. I have taken on another project that I am excited about. I am a cyclist and have purchased a new race frame. I hate the original color and have begun to strip the paint and will be re-painting it. Problem is the existing paint is a real SOB to strip. I have used aircraft stripper, permetex stripper, Quick (old Lushi), strypeze and nothing seems to do a whole lot to it. I have it about 1/2 stripped and it seems to have hit a wall. The area under the stickers are almost impossible to get any paint off of it, the rest is partially removed but seems stuck there.

I need help with a stripper to remove the paint. I would guess its of Imron quality. I am relectuant to sand blast due to the typical thin walled construction of bikes. If you can suggest any options please let me know.

I have attached a shot of the frame before I began.

[eses]

You can get it bead blasted, or media blasted with something softer like walnut shells and it won't damage the metal. Chemical stripping I've used on actual PPC paint (similar to Imron) is Jasco brand gel-stripper. It is this thick goo like stuff and it does a decent job.

Your other options, while pretty impractical for that frame would be sanding it down. I wouldn't want the job personally. I would farm it out and have it media blasted personally, you'll get it back without a stratch on it and it will be cleaner than the day it was welded together.

[Ltspd]

eses, thanks for the info. I may have to look at bead blasting, I have 30.00 in diffrent strippers and could have had it BB for probally less

I just dont want to have someone remove more than just paint.

[Rin]

Try to track down pure methylene chloride. It's sometimes hard to find because a lot of companies are trying to cut back on it. Even a mix of methylene chloride and toluene is ok, but not as good.

[Ltspd]

I think it may be a powder coat finish, or atleast that is what a pro frame painter thought it might be. He can bead blast it for 15.00, which is way less than what I have in chemical alone so far. I can get straight tolune, and never thought about using that. Will straight me methylene chloride remove it? Or will I be better off paying someone 15.00 to do it and me not have to worry about it

[Reinhold]

Personally, I'd pay the $15. What are you going to paint it with when it's stripped? Do you have a custom graphics scheme?

[Ltspd]

Actually I will paint it black. Possibly a metallic black. I want the bike to be simple, no wild graphics, fades, etc. I will put probally only 1 to 2 stickers on it, the S-works "S" as the headbadge and possilby my name.

Yea, the 15.00 is the way to go, my only concern is that the bead blaster doesnt blast too much.

[MEC]

No real need to strip it. As long as the existing paint is adhearing to the metal ( doesent seem to be a problem here !!) The new paint will turn out fine. Just feather in the edges of the old paint, prime it then paint ....Mike

[Ltspd]

I was a dual powder coat that was baked after each application. I paid a local stripper to remove it in a special tank for powder coated aluminum. They said it was quite a finish, which speaks highly for specialized, or atleast there top of the line bike.