pwnasaurusREX

have been talking about redoing my 2006 allez. want to obtain the raw metal look. when calling a powdercoater they said that the frame will turn a few shades darker. anyways ever powder coated a frame clear. any pictures of what it looks like??? TIA.

HauntedMyst

The Cannondale FG is a clear coated bare bike

https://www.cannondale.com/bikes/04/c...del-4FSSS.html

pwnasaurusREX

thanks for your reply. although, due to the fact that my frame will be sandblasted it is going to be darker than that. the sandblasting darkens the bike. which is why i was curious what it would look like. i think it might be darker than the one you posted.

Metzinger

Does this powdercoater know aluminum bikes?
Too hot in the oven and your frame is toast.

demoncyclist

I wouldn't sandblast an aluminum frame. The tube walls are very thin. Chemical stripping is a much safer (for the bike) way to remove the old paint. That is what the aircraft industry does for similar reasons.

iam7head

yes and no

we work with aluminium at work all the time, it's about the right medium, pressure and the experience of the worker

if you are going to bring it to joe blow the metal worker down the metal shop then i would probably keep the frame warranty info handy,
with the wrong blasting medium you can saw thru the tube in no time.

sandblasting sometimes leaves a darker shade because of the medium getting "planted" in the the mirco/tiny texture of the metal, it can be cleaned off tho'

chemical stripping is a less dangerious method, but the same goes for paint stripper: you can damage the metal if the opertor have no idea
what he/she is dealing with. the classic case would be dipping a stripped down race car unibody into acid bath before painting it, it weaken
the metal if the operator is careless.

aircraft stripper in a can tense to be little weak compare to the chem comes in a drum we have at work but it's less of a risk if you going to diy it.

just make sure you have a proper respirator with charcoal filter and thick thick gloves when working with the stripper, it burns pretty bad on skin.


beside PC, you can use automotive clearcoat to coat the bare aluminium frame, it's ultra durable and long lasting in hands of a good painter