Stripping paint from a bicycle frame

[Fogey]

Really struggling with what I thought would be a simple job - stripping the paint from a bicycle frame. I've been using using Nitromors (do you have that in the States?) but all this seems to do is remove the lacquer over the paint - it has little or no effect on the paint itself. Can anyone recommend an alternative paint stripper that is likely to be available here in the UK?

Thanks

Fogey

 

[danski0224]

Sure it's paint and not a powdercoat?

 

[Fogey]

Sure it's paint and not a powdercoat?

Is definitely paint.

 

[Hghgrad]

Knotted wire wheel on an angle grinder. I have yet to find a paint that will stand up to that.

I'm not a huge fan if chemical strippers, but we have "aircraft stripper" here that will take off your skin and makes pretty quick work of any paint.

 

[Kevin54]

If it is actual paint and not powdercoat, go to a place like Lowe's and get a can of "Aircraft Stripper" and it should take the paint off. If per a wild chance it doesn't, then look through the Yellow Pages for a local sandblaster and get it stripped that way. With the bike being a tube frame, the 'blaster can get aggressive with it without damage. The biggest thing that will need to be done is stripping it completely down beforehand.

 

[sberry]

If its well adhered why? Sand and paint over it.

 

[Fogey]

If its well adhered why? Sand and paint over it.

That's what I probably should have done - but I'm sort of past that stage now . . . .
Rotary wire brush it is then!

Thanks for the suggestions



Fogey

 

[neonnblack]

Get aircraft gel stripper.

 

[Super Mech]

Rock miracle stripper. I've used it to take powdercoating off a plow.

 

[CNGsaves]

You "COULD" use one of these pictured below . . . Handi Stripper ??

But I would not recommend it. I totally stripped a Schwinn bicycle back when I was a teenager with that evil stripper. Could have taken my eye out, but hey I was 13 and "knew everything."

+1 to sand with rough sandpaper, then move up to fine grit.

 

[beatcad]

not that it matters, but what style/make/model/age bicycle?
get the aircraft stripper brush on or spray can. or even better a brand called strip eze(spray can)
let it bubble up and scrape the rest off w/ a scraper or wire brush.

if you find this stuff make sure to gloves and long sleave shirt. if you get it on yourself itll burn. and wear safety glasses/goggles! if it gets in your eyes youll wish you were dead!

and show a pic. just cause I like bicycles

 

[theknurl]

in the States;
Certified Aircraft Stripper with the white label

eats anything, only burns a bit....just a little.....comes off with water

i use it on $3-$4,000 gunstocks...... when you rinse them, they smell like walnut

i can't believe we can still buy it

 

[MarkG]

When I did a single-speed conversion project a year or so ago, I just cleaned the frame, scuffed it up with Scotchbrite pads, wiped it down with wax & grease remover, primed and airbrushed with Auto Air airbrush colors and cleared with several coats clear coat in a spray can. Worked great and is holding up just as well as I expected! The AutoAir colors dry very flat and it's expected that these will be clearcoated with several coats to reach a nice gloss.

(Please---no lectures on me spraying! It's water-based and there's a fan drawing it away from me. BTW, I'm a respiratory therapy dropout! Not kidding!)

 

[fatboy99]

in the States;
Certified Aircraft Stripper with the white label

eats anything, only burns a bit....just a little.....comes off with water

i use it on $3-$4,000 gunstocks...... when you rinse them, they smell like walnut

i can't believe we can still buy it

SHHHHH DON'T say that too loud !!! ( I totally Agree )

Fogey my co worker has used the above to strip several bike frames. He used our glass bead cabinet with the pressure turned down to do steel frame bikes.

 

[spotco2]

Look for something that the primary active ingredient is Sodium Hydroxide.

It will eat the paint as well as your skin if you get it on you.

 

[Lippyp]

Get it soda blasted. I had some aluminium valve covers done at a place in manchester and they came out clean and ready to polish with no damage to the metal at all.

 

[zkling]

Look for something that the primary active ingredient is Sodium Hydroxide.

So hand soap? It's primary ingredient is sodium hydroxide Plus if his bike has any aluminum on it, NaOH is the last thing you want to use.

What you really want is something that has Dichloromethane, or more commonly called Methylene chloride. Aircraft stripper is very good and uses this chemical. Another I found is "Jasco paint and epoxy remover". Not sure what brands you have available over there. Maybe call around to a few paint shops.

Outside of chemical stripping, you could always get it media blasted by someone. Or even hot tank dipped, but that goes back to the NaOH issues and if you have aluminum on your bike, lets just say the paint won't be the only thing removed.

 

[mengel]

I can't imagine a Methylene Chloride based stripper not doing the job on a bicycle frame. The NaOH (lye) strippers are great for decks and latex. Just don't be a dumb and get one drop on your arm and one on your head while working to get the solid base stain off the deck of the home you bought. Now I have (healed) two new 1/4 in. scars. NaOH is great at turning flesh into soap leaving you with a hole where skin once existed.

 

[GirchyGirchy]

I had a local blaster strip one of mine...cost $45 which is their minimum charge. Make sure all holes and threads are masked off well!

 

[CalJJ]

What is the frame made of? If it is steel a wire wheel will work fine, if it is aluminum a steel wire wheel will mar up the tubing. A softer wire wheel such as brass may work, but I have never tried it myself. I used Jasco to strip several frames, it seemed to work a bit better when it was a bit warmer out, 70 degrees or above.

 

[SeattleKent]

I've had good luck with electrolysis. Let it bubble for a day and the paint comes of in sheets. A little extra work required in corners.

 

[kazlx]

Like mentioned...if the frame is aluminum, you really need to be careful picking a stripping method whether it's mechanical or chemical. You could very easily damage or weaken the frame. I would honestly just take it somewhere. For what a place would charge you (around here at least), it's not worth the hassle. Soda blasting or similar would be ideal and is very quick and clean. Be careful with aircraft strippers, they will eat aluminum.

For steel, that would probably be the easiest way to go.

 

[Jere]

My first vote is wire wheel on and angle grinder, but other than that and what is already mentioned a heat gun or acetone will work also.

 

[jfcasey]

i have removed paint from many bike frames over the years, usually using aircraft stripper, steel wool and many rags. They were always cromo frames so I never had problems with them weakening. Are you looking to clear coat the bare metal for a raw look or strip it just to repaint it? If you are going to repaint it I would probably just sand the **** out of the paint that won't come off and paint over it since you already know its got a good bond to the metal.

If you want the "raw" look instead, just beware if you use a flap disk or wirewheel you will get the brushed look and not the shiny bare metal look.