Originally Posted by scottferreter

Hey, I am about to receive a 1974 Raleigh International. I am going to build it up, ride it for a few months, and if it is the one, I am going to strip it and repaint it. If not, I'll keep the original paint and pass it on to a vintage lover who will keep it in its true form.
The bike has chrome dropouts and fork, and I know that it's not worth it to try and get rid of the chrome, but I am wondering what is going to be underneath the paint on the rest of the bike. I really like the look of raw frames that have been clear-coated, like you see on some of the Rivendells. Will there be a difference between what shows if I strip it myself or have it blasted at a shop? Also, there are always ads for powdercoat removal where I live, and I see that it's cheaper to have a non-powdercoat paint job stripped, what are the differences between the two and when did powdercoat technology come into the picture?

Lots of questions. Thanks for any advice you might have.