Sand/beadblast and paint/powdercoat a nice old steel frame - places to go?

[familyguy]

Does anyone know of any places in Sydney (particularly north shore/northern beaches) who can bead/sandblast then refinish an old steel frame? Failing those areas, anywhere in Sydney?! NSW? Australia?

I have a Reynolds 501SL frame that is crying out for refinishing. I'm reluctant to take it to a vehicle refinisher, as I've heard tell of using too coarse a bead/sand and irrepairably damaging a frame. Once thats done it needs to be painted or powdercoated. I dont want to just sand it and spray can it, like I've done to others, cause its too nice for that.

I've got a lead on the 501SL replica decals from JRestore, and dont really need the original manufacturers name in any way. This is what I'm planning on refinishing: http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=381024


Any help greatly appreciated.

Jim

[Falchoon]

I doubt that sandblasting would hurt a bike frame, they are heaps more rigid than a car panel. Just have to make sure you get all the sand/other particle out of the bottom bracket and headset areas afterwards.

Alternatively you could use paint stripper, pretty messy though and caustic (where thick gloves, overalls, face mask and goggles).

Maybe ask at a bike shop and see what they suggest.