Framebuilders - Is aluminum oxide blasting safe on thin steel tubing?

I'm looking into getting my Fondriest MegaChrome with thin-walled Deda steel tubing painter or powedercoated. My question is, is aluminum oxide blast media safe for the thin steel tubing? I found a guy who edoes really nice powdercoat work, but he only uses aluminum oxide blast6 media. He said he could turn the pressure down and the tubing would be fine. I'm concerned about retaining the strength of the tubing. Should I find somebody else? Thanks.

Can you find anywhere that does soda blasting as an alternative? Grade 6 is extra coarse. I wouldn't if I were you...

My local blaster says that he can hold to less than 50 um material removal with oxide grit blasting. Note that if your frame has say 0.4mm butted sections that's slightly more than 10% of the wall thickness which will significantly weaken the frame.

My local blaster says that he can hold to less than 50 um material removal with oxide grit blasting. Note that if your frame has say 0.4mm butted sections that's slightly more than 10% of the wall thickness which will significantly weaken the frame.

What do you feel would be the best way to strip the frame? The rear triangle is chrome in good shape which I was hoping to keep if possible.

Ask an expert (not me).

If I were to do the job I would use Beartex pads and elbow grease.

JASCO brand paint stripper in gel form. I have used it on a number of frames. Put down plenty of newspapers, paint on a thick layer of gel, let it sit for 10 minutes or so, then scrape it off. Works beautifully, though two applications are occasionally required. Hurts like hell if you get it on your skin. Don't even want to think about getting it into eyes. And you'll want to keep it off the chrome -- though I have used it on several frames that were chromed under the paint with no ill effects.

Wal-mart sells a spray on foaming paint stripper in an orange can called "paint stripper" near the paint section. I like it because its $5 a can, tears right through paint, and its not messy.

JASCO brand paint stripper in gel form. I have used it on a number of frames. Put down plenty of newspapers, paint on a thick layer of gel, let it sit for 10 minutes or so, then scrape it off. Works beautifully, though two applications are occasionally required. Hurts like hell if you get it on your skin. Don't even want to think about getting it into eyes. And you'll want to keep it off the chrome -- though I have used it on several frames that were chromed under the paint with no ill effects.

Won't the frame rust in the short time it takes to get it to the powdercoater?

Only if you're keeping it in a bath of salt water between them. Bear in mind that after chemical paint stripping, you *will* have to wash the residue off with a detergent and water, else nasty little pockets will linger in the scales of TIG welds and such. Get the water as hot as you can stand, with a goodly portion of any liquid detergent you like, once the frame is pristine, and then scrub the bejesus out of it. Wipe it down with white spirit or such afterwards as that will drive the water off the exterior surface and leave it in an airing cupboard or near a heater for a day or two if you have that long between stages so that any water that go into the frame is driven off. Alternatively, get in touch with a company like this on your side of the pond...: www.surfaceprocessing.co.uk

Won't the frame rust in the short time it takes to get it to the powdercoater?

I used to go to a powdercoater who refused to strip paint. Probably didn't have the facilities for it, I figure. I always used the JASCO method before bringing frames to him. Never had a problem. In fact, his coatings seemed tougher to me than the ones applied by the local "bicycle specialist" that insists on blasting frames before coating.

I've seen posting refer to bead blasting and walnut hull blasting (serious) suggesting that these are less likely to remove frame material than abrasive blasting..... anybody know more?

The blasting that I've done (limited to a couple of frames) used glass bead media.

Low psi blasting with aluminum oxide is safe as long as the pressure is kept low (45 psi or so) and the bulk of the paint is removed using paint stripper so you don't have to bear down on the tube with the blast media. Joe Bell among others use aluminum oxide and he is much revered in the bicycle paint industry.

Glass bead leaves a nice satiny finish, as does steel..,,,,BD

My point being neither removes much steel, only paint....