Paint removal from chrome safely
01-22-21, 05:37 PM
#26
Strong Walker
paint stripper, even the consumer grade stuff, is no fun either, don't get me wrong. Etched the fingerprints of my fingers last week because I forgot to wear gloves (thug life hack). Most bikes with paint on chrome I had my hands on, the paint could be scraped off the chromed bits without chemicals at all... In fact, getting the new paint to stick to it, that is the hard part.
01-22-21, 07:39 PM
#27
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I know; should have added a "wink". Hmm, what is "PT"?
On a different part, I had already contacted the chrome shop I use and do have blasting facilities - but I did not ask what media.
Doh!
And I have a good selection of wood shim stock, a little trimming on the end would have worked.
If my results were like that, I'd be pleased. That said,
(a) 1st attempt with the aircraft paint stripper wasn't that much better than the wood stripper... OK, somewhat better. But I see 2-3 more coats to get everything out of the corners, like where the fork blades enter the crown. It's 55F in the unheated basement, and maybe it would work better if I brought the project into the heated part of the house. I recall stripping the car, the stuff did not work for beans in the cold of a neighbor's unheated garage; a few warm days and the paint all came off.
(b) I have enough off the blades now that I can see the underlying chrome. Dull. I tried the electric buffer and it did not brighten up. So, a lot of work to get to bare metal -- and it is still going to the chrome shop. Sigh.
On a different part, I had already contacted the chrome shop I use and do have blasting facilities - but I did not ask what media.
Doh!
And I have a good selection of wood shim stock, a little trimming on the end would have worked.If my results were like that, I'd be pleased. That said,
(a) 1st attempt with the aircraft paint stripper wasn't that much better than the wood stripper... OK, somewhat better. But I see 2-3 more coats to get everything out of the corners, like where the fork blades enter the crown. It's 55F in the unheated basement, and maybe it would work better if I brought the project into the heated part of the house. I recall stripping the car, the stuff did not work for beans in the cold of a neighbor's unheated garage; a few warm days and the paint all came off.
(b) I have enough off the blades now that I can see the underlying chrome. Dull. I tried the electric buffer and it did not brighten up. So, a lot of work to get to bare metal -- and it is still going to the chrome shop. Sigh.
Your issue is temperature. I have used paint stripper extensively on both wood and metals and can tell you below 70F the effectiveness in removing paint drops precipitously! Find another place to work or wait for warmer weather otherwise you’re wasting your time and unnecessarily exposing yourself to these harsh chemicals!
Steve
01-22-21, 09:23 PM
#28
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paint stripper, even the consumer grade stuff, is no fun either, don't get me wrong. Etched the fingerprints of my fingers last week because I forgot to wear gloves (thug life hack). Most bikes with paint on chrome I had my hands on, the paint could be scraped off the chromed bits without chemicals at all... In fact, getting the new paint to stick to it, that is the hard part.
note- Saran Wrap after applying stripper will extend the working time as the volatiles won’t evaporate as fast- providing more time to work.
be sure to wear the right type of gloves, latex don’t cut it. Vinyl - nope.
have a damp rag, bucket of water to rinse off any splash onto exposed skin.
01-23-21, 07:19 AM
#30
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Thanks for the input!
Even my wife recommended bringing this part of the project up to the heated part of the house.Mostly want to ensure I don't get stripper on the finished floors or any other surface. I had a portable heater in the basement and not getting uo to even 60F down there.
I'll try Saran wrap, then.
Sounds great but I'm already behind schedule on the projects, I'd like to get all the paint off and, sadly, the forks off to the chrome shop ASAP because that's another 2 weeks until replated. Hmm, not sure but Ansell sounds familiar. Years ago, I was briefly a buyer for a janitorial-products distributor, and recall Ansell brand gloves. Aah, Google shows they make nitrile gloves. Amazon has them but +/- $100 for a dozen pairs... nope. I'll risk it. All these decades of old bike, old cars and old house means I've had every conceivable chemical on my hands at one time or another.
Your issue is temperature. I have used paint stripper extensively on both wood and metals and can tell you below 70F the effectiveness in removing paint drops precipitously! Find another place to work or wait for warmer weather otherwise you’re wasting your time and unnecessarily exposing yourself to these harsh chemicals!
note- Saran Wrap after applying stripper will extend the working time as the volatiles won’t evaporate as fast- providing more time to work.
be sure to wear the right type of gloves, latex don’t cut it. Vinyl - nope. have a damp rag, bucket of water to rinse off any splash onto exposed skin.
be sure to wear the right type of gloves, latex don’t cut it. Vinyl - nope. have a damp rag, bucket of water to rinse off any splash onto exposed skin.
Sounds great but I'm already behind schedule on the projects, I'd like to get all the paint off and, sadly, the forks off to the chrome shop ASAP because that's another 2 weeks until replated. Hmm, not sure but Ansell sounds familiar. Years ago, I was briefly a buyer for a janitorial-products distributor, and recall Ansell brand gloves. Aah, Google shows they make nitrile gloves. Amazon has them but +/- $100 for a dozen pairs... nope. I'll risk it. All these decades of old bike, old cars and old house means I've had every conceivable chemical on my hands at one time or another.
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Larry:1958 Drysdale, 1961 Gitane Gran Sport, 1974 Zeus track, 1988 Masi Gran Corsa, 1974 Falcon, 1980 Palo Alto, 1973 Raleigh Gran Sport, 1974 Legnano. Susan: 1976 Windsor Profesional.
Larry:1958 Drysdale, 1961 Gitane Gran Sport, 1974 Zeus track, 1988 Masi Gran Corsa, 1974 Falcon, 1980 Palo Alto, 1973 Raleigh Gran Sport, 1974 Legnano. Susan: 1976 Windsor Profesional.
