Hi I have an old schwinn frame and when I received it, it was caked in lime green paint. I was able to save the head badge. I tried using easy off to try to save the original paint underneath, but that's just not going happen. The orginal paint is pretty toast. I'm curious if I should use paint stripper and take it down to bare metal or sanded it. What is everyone's prefered method? Sanding is kind of a pain, but I've heard using paint stripper can damage the metal? Any info will help. Thanks
Bicycle painting
- Thread starter Jarod24
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I use an electric wire brush, works well for me, just make sure if you do, you use a face mask and eye protection at the very least!
Luke.
Luke.
When I have a frame caked with 3 coats of house paint I take them to a friend that owns a radiator shop. He puts the frame in the tank used to clean radiators overnight and the next day the frame is bare metal. If you have a radiator repair shop handy, it's would be worth asking them if they'd do it.
I used to work in a machine shop that had a big bead blast machine. That was the ultimate for frame prep. It gets every molecule of paint and rust off the metal. I primed the frame as soon as it came out of the bead blaster.
Or, easier yet, if you decide to powder coat the frame, just drop it off at the powder coaters and they will blast and coat while you're home on your patio enjoying a mint julep. Easy! Gary
I used to work in a machine shop that had a big bead blast machine. That was the ultimate for frame prep. It gets every molecule of paint and rust off the metal. I primed the frame as soon as it came out of the bead blaster.
Or, easier yet, if you decide to powder coat the frame, just drop it off at the powder coaters and they will blast and coat while you're home on your patio enjoying a mint julep. Easy! Gary
Be very aware of what method automotive shops use to clean.
For steel most use caustic soda bath, which will melt aluminum, and at very least turn it nasty black! Also it will attack fillers, including brass, copper, and bronze.
For aluminum most shops use a hot soapy mix in a spray booth. This is how I would have my own stuff washed, but be warned, a bunch of paint in the tank, you will pay!
For steel most use caustic soda bath, which will melt aluminum, and at very least turn it nasty black! Also it will attack fillers, including brass, copper, and bronze.
For aluminum most shops use a hot soapy mix in a spray booth. This is how I would have my own stuff washed, but be warned, a bunch of paint in the tank, you will pay!
I recently used this stuff, it works awesome and is eco-friendly.
I got it at Menards. You just slop it on the frame, let it sit for a few hours and scrape it off.
Everything just falls off so easily.
I got it at Menards. You just slop it on the frame, let it sit for a few hours and scrape it off.
Everything just falls off so easily.
My 6 yr old and I are building an old bike for him right now. Bike is from the 50's, paint was fused using some form of radioactive processing, what I mean is that it was on there. I used aircraft stripper, took two coats, scraped it off with putty knife. I then used wire wheels to remove the rest. Was going to paint it blue cause my son wanted it that, but when all the paint was off he wanted it bare metal.
Thanks for all the input, very much appreciated. I will probably try some stripper and see how it turns out. My biggest concern was damaging the frame with chemicals. I had read somewhere that strippers can damage the frame.
Thanks for all the info. Yeah I tried some paint stripper and you are right it did not work very good. I ended up using a hand sander with sandpaper. I have about half of the frame done. I do have a dremel so I'll probably use that to get in the small areas.
Jarod: How well did the oven cleaner work? I have a set of fenders that had original paint plus one layer of barn paint..., I tried oven cleaner to remove the top coat, and it stripped them down to the bare metal in a matter of seconds! 
Doug the oven cleaner somewhat worked but yeah it started to kinda take off the original paint. The spray paint or whatever kind of paint that was on there was super thick. I was able to save the badge though and good thing is I was actually planning on painting it the exact color it originally was before I even knew what it was
If oven cleaner, wood bleach, box blade or rubbing alcohol doesn't work I bring out my wire wheel 
It a wee bit small of a machine and will leave your fingers feeling tingly 
And this is how long it is
It a wee bit small of a machine and will leave your fingers feeling tingly 
And this is how long it is
If oven cleaner, wood bleach, box blade or rubbing alcohol doesn't work I bring out my wire wheel
And this is how long it is
Yeah, that ought to do it!Luke.
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