scraping paint
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Saratoga calif.
Posts: 1,047
Bikes: Miyata 610(66cm), GT Vantara Hybrid (64cm), Nishiki International (64cm), Peugeot rat rod (62 cm), Trek 800 Burning Man helicopter bike, Bob Jackson frame (to be restored?) plus a never ending stream of neglected waifs from the Bike exchange.
Mentioned: 28 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 339 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 623 Times
in
225 Posts
scraping paint
People spend lots of time removing paint from their bicycle frames to paint them. I thought I would pass on a tip .
I scraped this paint off a Richey frame using the disposable utility knife shown that you can buy for a dollar at many big box hardware stores. What you see took about 15 minutes or less. Using this method you can remove maybe 80% of the frame paint in a couple hours, then using a electric vibrating or orbital sander, remove almost all the remaining paint except the lugs in another hour. The lugs will need stripper or, in my case, a small home sand blast kit. This is a lot faster and less messy than using stripper or sand blasting on the the whole frame. I have done it on three bikes so far and am sold on the method.
I scraped this paint off a Richey frame using the disposable utility knife shown that you can buy for a dollar at many big box hardware stores. What you see took about 15 minutes or less. Using this method you can remove maybe 80% of the frame paint in a couple hours, then using a electric vibrating or orbital sander, remove almost all the remaining paint except the lugs in another hour. The lugs will need stripper or, in my case, a small home sand blast kit. This is a lot faster and less messy than using stripper or sand blasting on the the whole frame. I have done it on three bikes so far and am sold on the method.
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Near Pottstown, PA: 30 miles NW of Philadelphia
Posts: 2,185
Bikes: 2 Trek Mtn, Cannondale R600 road, 6 vintage road bikes
Mentioned: 83 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 471 Post(s)
Liked 1,016 Times
in
398 Posts
Agreed, for some cases. My very fine '74 Gitane Gypsy Sport had some odd purple paint that was still soft. Stripper was a messy fail so I scrapped most of it off. Not hard at all. I've also had good luck making scrapers out of steel banding material, like what secures pallets of lumber or bricks or pipe. Higher carbon steel than normal and holds an edge fairly well. You can sharpen it with a file and easily vary how sharp it is. I've not tried rolling an edge on it yet. No need.
I'll guess that scraping may not work well on some paints though. Can't hoit to try, eh?
I'll guess that scraping may not work well on some paints though. Can't hoit to try, eh?
#3
Full Member
When I painted frames for Rocky Mtn. I used a three sided knife like this....
The rigid point allows you to scrape in some pretty tight spaces.
The rigid point allows you to scrape in some pretty tight spaces.
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Maryland
Posts: 3,980
Bikes: Lots of English 3-speeds, a couple of old road bikes, 3 mountain bikes, 1 hybrid, and a couple of mash-ups
Mentioned: 53 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 887 Post(s)
Liked 335 Times
in
225 Posts
I just use wettable sand paper to get the tube paint off, and then dental picks and such for detail areas. It doesn't take very long and causes no fumes or dust. Doubt it would well on Imron though. I haven't done it in a while - I have reconsiled with patina.
#6
Edumacator
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Goose Creek, SC
Posts: 7,429
Bikes: '87 Crestdale, '87 Basso Gap, '92 Rossin Performance EL-OS, 1990 VanTuyl, 1980s Losa, 1985 Trek 670, 1982 AD SLE, 1987 PX10, etc...
Mentioned: 56 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2385 Post(s)
Liked 2,931 Times
in
1,862 Posts
Does it double as a potato peeler? Seriously, though, where does one get one of these?
__________________
1987 Crest Cannondale, 1987 Basso Gap, 1992 Rossin Performance EL, 1990ish Van Tuyl, 1985 Trek 670, 1982 AD SLE, 2003 Pinarello Surprise, 1990ish MBK Atlantique, 1987 Peugeot Competition, 1987 Nishiki Tri-A, 1981 Faggin, 1996 Cannondale M500, 1984 Mercian, 1982 AD SuperLeicht, 1985 Massi (model unknown), 1988 Daccordi Griffe , 1989 Fauxsin MTB, 1981 Ciocc Mockba, 1992 Bianchi Giro, 1977 Colnago Super
1987 Crest Cannondale, 1987 Basso Gap, 1992 Rossin Performance EL, 1990ish Van Tuyl, 1985 Trek 670, 1982 AD SLE, 2003 Pinarello Surprise, 1990ish MBK Atlantique, 1987 Peugeot Competition, 1987 Nishiki Tri-A, 1981 Faggin, 1996 Cannondale M500, 1984 Mercian, 1982 AD SuperLeicht, 1985 Massi (model unknown), 1988 Daccordi Griffe , 1989 Fauxsin MTB, 1981 Ciocc Mockba, 1992 Bianchi Giro, 1977 Colnago Super
#8
Full Member
Haven't wielded one of those in over twenty year. But now that I've sourced one, I want one! lol...
Would this method be safe for aluminum frames too?
Also depends on product your removing. If it's powdercoated just fuggedaboutit and use copious amounts of paint stripper. And be cautious media blasting aluminium. I think most brands tell you it'll void your warrenty but after chemical stripping, scraping, and soft wire brushing I would lightly media blast the frame to blow out any crud or specks that would show up under a coat of paint. Of course I could sand out the primer coat if needed but time money yada yada.....
Last edited by tungsten; 06-02-21 at 03:01 PM.
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Maryland, USA
Posts: 2,414
Bikes: Drysdale/Gitane/Zeus/Masi/Falcon/Palo Alto/Raleigh/Legnano
Mentioned: 34 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 967 Post(s)
Liked 615 Times
in
394 Posts
That said, I'm still all in for chemicals, but whoever suggested a wooden roux spoon to get loosened paint off a frame... thank you!
__________________
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.
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Maryland, USA
Posts: 2,414
Bikes: Drysdale/Gitane/Zeus/Masi/Falcon/Palo Alto/Raleigh/Legnano
Mentioned: 34 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 967 Post(s)
Liked 615 Times
in
394 Posts
Ideally, we need to be able to teleport the frame to one place, and the paint finish to another. "Energize, Scotty!"
__________________
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.
#12
Passista
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 7,586
Bikes: 1998 Pinarello Asolo, 1992 KHS Montaņa pro, 1980 Raleigh DL-1, IGH Hybrid, IGH Utility
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 866 Post(s)
Liked 711 Times
in
392 Posts
I make my own scrapers from old hacksaw blades. For the handle, just wrap an old rag on it. Recycler or cheapskate? 😄
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Beaverton, OR
Posts: 14,787
Bikes: Yes
Mentioned: 522 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3228 Post(s)
Liked 3,854 Times
in
1,436 Posts
It's super simple for paint over chrome, such is in the example above. For paint that's well bonded to the surface, I find that pre-sanding before applying the stripper helps. For areas where the paint doesn't cooperate as well as in the pic above, the stripper still softens it substantially so that I can get most of it off with a putty knife (which is what I actually use for the easy spots too). This generally gets me 90% of the way to the finish line. For the main tubes, a belt sander strip makes for easy work. For the crevices I start with a wire brush attachment on a drill. If I want to be super thorough, a smaller wire brush on a Dremel tool will clean up the smallest of spaces.
That said, the wire brush step is very messy and your point about flying stripper at this point is well taken. It's probably mostly gone by then with my typical technique, but it's definitely something I'll pay attention to next time.
__________________
My Bikes
My Bikes
#14
Mother Nature's Son
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Sussex County, Delaware
Posts: 3,111
Bikes: 2014 Orbea Avant MD30, 2004 Airborne Zeppelin TI, 2003 Lemond Poprad, 2001 Lemond Tourmalet, 2014? Soma Smoothie
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 838 Post(s)
Liked 1,414 Times
in
801 Posts
I finished stripping a 1989 Fuji Ace a couple of weeks ago. I did what worked for me on the other two framesets I did: chemical stripper and let stand overnight in a garbage bag. Next day used a scraper and a utility knife to remove the broken down paint and pressure washed it to get the rest off. I do not have any idea what paint was used, but it was very difficult to strip. I had to give up on the utility knife as it would get hung up and scrape/scratch the steel too much. I still had to use a good bit of sandpaper and manual labor to get the frameset to bare metal, and then to get it smoothed out. The other framesets I stripped were much easier and less time consuming. The Fuji is Ishiwata steel, the Ochsner is Columbus Aelle, and the Lemond Tourmalet is Reynolds 853. I have no idea if the grade of steel makes a difference, or if it is just whatever paint/process was used. I put the final coat of rattle can spray paint on the frame yesterday. My first time painting a bike and I think it came out pretty good, better than I was expecting. No pictures yet.