Removing paint...chrome frame?
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Removing paint...chrome frame?
I was wondering how well paint stripper works for removing paint because I want to take the paint of my steel bianchi and clearcoat it to have a bare/chrome frame. Is this realistic? I also want to remove rust without scratching the metal, would polish or CLR work best for this?
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Usually the chrome is only polished where it would show. But gel paint stripper will take the paint off quite effectively.
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Originally Posted by Granny
Bare and chrome are two very different things.
This cant be stated strongly enough!
If you think you are going to strip paint and find chrome, you are waaaayyyyyyy wrong!
The amount of time you would have to spend polishing the metal just to make it shine would kill you. Sending it to a chromer might work. Lots of them available on the internet.
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WOW!! Almost seems like those pics should have been posted on April 1st!!
Is it common for a manufacturer to spend the money to chrome a frame, then paint of top of it?
Is it common for a manufacturer to spend the money to chrome a frame, then paint of top of it?
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after further review, I cant even tell what color it is in the BEFORE picture? Looks like the top might be painted, but the bottom chrome?
#8
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The Pinarello was fully chromed, then covered with a clear black paint - most likely a powdercoat. The goal was to get the sheen of the chrome to shine through. Painting over chrome was fairly common for some Italian framebuilders back in the 80's and maybe longer.
Here's a closeup of before - look around the edges of the lug where the paint was peeling.
Here's a closeup of before - look around the edges of the lug where the paint was peeling.
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Bottom line is that the frame was completely chrome and this is why it looks good with the paint off.
Bare steel on the other hand might look horrible, it would depend on how carefully the welds were done etc..
Bare steel on the other hand might look horrible, it would depend on how carefully the welds were done etc..
#10
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Nice work, 55/Rad! I am considering doing this to a similar frame.
#11
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Interesting. Does anyone know what's under the paint of a Kilo TT Pro?
Is it chrome? Or would stripping the frame leave chrome tips and raw steel where the paint used to be?
Is it chrome? Or would stripping the frame leave chrome tips and raw steel where the paint used to be?
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The Pinarello was fully chromed, then covered with a clear black paint - most likely a powdercoat. The goal was to get the sheen of the chrome to shine through. Painting over chrome was fairly common for some Italian framebuilders back in the 80's and maybe longer.
Here's a closeup of before - look around the edges of the lug where the paint was peeling.
Here's a closeup of before - look around the edges of the lug where the paint was peeling.
This thread shows my test on an early 80s Pinarello Record and the gel material I used: https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...r-project.html
And, case in point for Pinarello labels on a later 80s Montello:
For removing rust from chrome, I use a ball of tin-foil and WD_40. Just wipe gently and be amazed.
Last edited by CyclingFool95; 06-01-20 at 04:09 PM.