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So I had this really cool idea to powder coat my seat post . . .

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So I had this really cool idea to powder coat my seat post . . .

Old 04-25-11, 07:25 PM
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So I had this really cool idea to powder coat my seat post . . .

annnnd it looks GREAT. (Won't fit back into the frame now but damn it looks good!)

EEeeyeah.

Never really considered how thick a powder coat sits on top of metal. Anyhow, I'm thinking perhaps a chemical or something I could just dip it in to thin out the portion going into the frame?? Thoughts?
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Old 04-25-11, 07:36 PM
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Assuming you don't own a sandblaster, try Aircraft stripper/remover.
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Old 04-25-11, 07:39 PM
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Originally Posted by Purp
Assuming you don't own a sandblaster, try Aircraft stripper/remover.
Nope, no sandblaster. Aircraft stripper's at any hardware store, Home Depot? Put it in a glass and let it sit for how much time you think?
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Old 04-25-11, 07:52 PM
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Your problem is that seatpost frame fits are pretty dam precise. On the order of plus or minus .002". That's less than the thickness of any paint, so you're going to strip back to bare metal or very close to that for the part that fits into the frame.

If you know the exact height you want the post to be, you might put a hose clamp around the post at that height exactly to protect the paint and get a good line. Then you can sand off the area below using emery cloth strips as if shining shoes. Keep going until you just begin to see bare metal and you should be OK.
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Old 04-25-11, 08:01 PM
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Originally Posted by FBinNY
Your problem is that seatpost frame fits are pretty dam precise. On the order of plus or minus .002". That's less than the thickness of any paint, so you're going to strip back to bare metal or very close to that for the part that fits into the frame.

If you know the exact height you want the post to be, you might put a hose clamp around the post at that height exactly to protect the paint and get a good line. Then you can sand off the area below using emery cloth strips as if shining shoes. Keep going until you just begin to see bare metal and you should be OK.
For the exact height, I think I'll wait until I get the build done to size it up, then maybe I can salvage what in theory was a pretty cool idea. Oh, and it has a nice clear coat on it too, so I'm gonna to get a little forearm work if I go manual labor.
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Old 04-25-11, 08:10 PM
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Originally Posted by Sundance89
For the exact height, I think I'll wait until I get the build done to size it up, then maybe I can salvage what in theory was a pretty cool idea. Oh, and it has a nice clear coat on it too, so I'm gonna to get a little forearm work if I go manual labor.
If you start with a medium coarse grit, and work to finer ones, you'll be amazed at how fast it can go. The hose clamp will give you a nice clean line without the need to be very careful.
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Old 04-25-11, 08:15 PM
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i'm doing something similar right now but with the small round pegs on a decauler.

It should be relatively simple actually:
- get a few different sandpapers (medium to fine-grit)
- cut a strip of the coarsest to be about the size you need
- put it in the palm of you hand, grit out
- grip the post with that hand
- rotate the post with the other hand
- do that for a while
- do it for a while longer
- ... just a little longer

i'd definitely recommend getting another seatpost and using it to measure the correct height. live with it for a week or so before sanding the paint off your painted one.

sounds pretty cool, did they paint the top part where the saddle attaches? you might have fit problems there too
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Old 04-25-11, 08:24 PM
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You are the 3rd guy who i know did it hehehehe good luck with the sanding
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Old 04-26-11, 05:56 PM
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Originally Posted by FBinNY
If you start with a medium coarse grit, and work to finer ones, you'll be amazed at how fast it can go. The hose clamp will give you a nice clean line without the need to be very careful.

Originally Posted by jchabalk
i'm doing something similar right now but with the small round pegs on a decauler.

It should be relatively simple actually:
- get a few different sandpapers (medium to fine-grit)
- cut a strip of the coarsest to be about the size you need
- put it in the palm of you hand, grit out
- grip the post with that hand
- rotate the post with the other hand
- do that for a while
- do it for a while longer
- ... just a little longer

i'd definitely recommend getting another seatpost and using it to measure the correct height. live with it for a week or so before sanding the paint off your painted one.

sounds pretty cool, did they paint the top part where the saddle attaches? you might have fit problems there too
Great tips, thanks to you both. The hose clamp is a winner.
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Old 04-26-11, 05:57 PM
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Originally Posted by ultraman6970
You are the 3rd guy who i know did it hehehehe good luck with the sanding
That's hilarious . . . (and strangely comforting).
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Old 04-26-11, 08:40 PM
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I would just figure out how much post you want showing and put some tape around it at that point then sand down the powder coat below till it slides in.
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Old 04-26-11, 10:05 PM
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i used carb cleaner to get pc off my seatpost
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Old 04-27-11, 12:23 AM
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Originally Posted by diaper eater
i used carb cleaner to get pc off my seatpost
Appreciate the suggestion.




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Old 04-27-11, 02:14 PM
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Buy a new post, hang the pc one on the wall.
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Old 04-27-11, 02:20 PM
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Originally Posted by Sundance89
annnnd it looks GREAT. (Won't fit back into the frame now but damn it looks good!)

EEeeyeah.

Never really considered how thick a powder coat sits on top of metal. Anyhow, I'm thinking perhaps a chemical or something I could just dip it in to thin out the portion going into the frame?? Thoughts?
ahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
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Old 04-27-11, 04:11 PM
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Gasket remover seems to work well enough. Just mask off the areas in which you don't want the powdercoat stripped.
https://www.choppersurplus.com/global...ercoating.html
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Old 04-27-11, 04:26 PM
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What kind of seatpost do you have that's worth all this effort?
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Old 04-27-11, 06:09 PM
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Originally Posted by Re-Cycle
What kind of seatpost do you have that's worth all this effort?
It's not the seatpost but the build. I'm workin on a smokin hot Xtracycle build and it's definitely worth all the effort. I'll have to pop a pic and post it. (lotta p's there)
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Old 04-27-11, 08:24 PM
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Pics don't do the PC justice. But this is just the beginning of what I'm up to.







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Old 04-27-11, 08:41 PM
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Does that seat clamp still fit, or will you need a new on of those as well?
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Old 04-27-11, 08:54 PM
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Originally Posted by jimc101
Does that seat clamp still fit, or will you need a new on of those as well?
Yeah, I know. It's close . . . very close. I didn't want to force it. I'll try the gasket remover that TMP recommend on the inside of it to at least get the clamp back to its original inner surface. Then hopefully that will be enough to easily fit over the seat tube. I can always pry the clamp open a little wider too.

I literally just got my frame back yesterday from the powder coater and unwrapped it. Aside from these minor glitches (er ah, oversights) I couldn't be more pleased.

Last edited by Sundance89; 04-27-11 at 09:17 PM.
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