Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Bicycle Mechanics
Reload this Page >

Soy Gel paint stripper/remover?

Notices
Bicycle Mechanics Broken bottom bracket? Tacoed wheel? If you're having problems with your bicycle, or just need help fixing a flat, drop in here for the latest on bicycle mechanics & bicycle maintenance.

Soy Gel paint stripper/remover?

Old 08-19-08, 05:15 AM
  #1  
Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: san jose, ca
Posts: 27

Bikes: Univega Sportour

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Soy Gel paint stripper/remover?

Anyone have experience with Soy Gel paint and urethane remover? Made from 100% soybeans and I guess without the same level of toxicity of other paint strippers. They list 'automotive' as one of the applications, and also state that removing paint from metals is part of what it does. It gets great reviews from non-bicycle folks, so I'm curious how it'd fare in stripping a frame. I think I'm going to purchase a smaller amount to see how it works on my steel bike. Downside is that it's more $ than more toxic paint strippers. But we'll see how it turns out.
!jayho! is offline  
Old 08-19-08, 05:38 AM
  #2  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 33,656

Bikes: '96 Litespeed Catalyst, '05 Litespeed Firenze, '06 Litespeed Tuscany, '20 Surly Midnight Special, All are 3x10. It is hilly around here!

Mentioned: 39 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2026 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1,095 Times in 741 Posts
I assume the "soy" part is just the gel carrier, not the solvent/stripper. I wonder how "non-toxic" this stuff can be. Read the ingredients list before assuming it's really environmentally friendly.
HillRider is offline  
Old 08-19-08, 07:40 AM
  #3  
Full Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Chattanooga, Tn
Posts: 300

Bikes: 1977 Raleigh Record, 1987 Schwinn Prelude, 1971 Raleigh Record, 1988 Schwinn Traveler, 1967 (?) Carlton Super Course, 1959 Huffy Sportsman 3 speed, 1972 Raleigh Super Course, yet another 70-something Raleigh Record

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 50 Post(s)
Liked 18 Times in 11 Posts
I bought the quart size about a year ago to try on some window trim -- not on metal. The old wood had many layers of probably lead paint on it. It didn't come off as smoothly as I'd hoped, but it did a decent job, I guess. One thing, though -- the resulting stripper/paint slurry seemed to get more dense with time as I used a scraper along with the stripping. There is still traces of the stuff stuck to the handle of my yard faucet. I'll probably buy some more for use on the house, though.
Ol Danl is offline  
Old 08-19-08, 05:43 PM
  #4  
Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: san jose, ca
Posts: 27

Bikes: Univega Sportour

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
interesting. i'll see how it works on a steel frame.
!jayho! is offline  
Old 11-17-08, 12:45 PM
  #5  
BicycleBonnet
 
RidingPretty's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: California
Posts: 4

Bikes: Raleigh Lady's Tourist, Lady's Motobecane '70s

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by !jayho!
interesting. i'll see how it works on a steel frame.
Did this work on a steel frame? DO you think it would work on aluminum frame ? I've been looking for non toxic products and so eager to find out if this one worked for you,

Shelly
RidingPretty is offline  
Old 05-11-20, 05:05 PM
  #6  
Full Member
 
ctak's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2019
Posts: 402
Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 170 Post(s)
Liked 264 Times in 146 Posts
Bumpety bump!

Reviving this thread as I'd love to know if anyone else in the last 12 years has attempted to remove paint from a steel frame using soy gel

thanks
ctak is offline  
Old 05-11-20, 05:50 PM
  #7  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2020
Posts: 490
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 252 Post(s)
Liked 67 Times in 48 Posts
I believe what counts here is the paint type there is on the frame, not what the frame is made of (although it might be worth it to test if it doesn't discolor aluminum).

Reason you usually need to use chemical stripper on metal instead of heat, like from torch flame, to soften paint, is because metal carries the heat from torch away too fast, paint barely has chance to get hot. Plus maybe it is not a good idea to use flame on bike frame to begin with.

Some paints can resist paint stripper, some give in but need several stripper applications. For steel bike frame, you may want to use small brass wire brush (paint shops sell those) to work the paint off after the stripper has acted. It needs to sit in generous layer on the paint for some minutes to soften the paint but don't let it dry completely. Nothing happens when you do but you have to apply the stripper again. For aluminum, maybe even just use plastic spatula? But if we talk about baked enamel or what is on bikes, maybe the stripper won't work at all or hardly at all. Never done such thing myself but I used the stripper in many situations otherwise.

I am guessing that in the end, if you really want the job to get done, you will need to buy the most noxious stripper, the traditional one. Your choice.

Last edited by vane171; 05-11-20 at 05:54 PM.
vane171 is offline  
Old 05-12-20, 06:06 AM
  #8  
Senior Member
 
Wileyone's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: GWN
Posts: 2,541
Mentioned: 27 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1858 Post(s)
Liked 605 Times in 402 Posts
Sometimes you just have to go toxic. I have tried some of these new "wonder" strippers and none of them have even phased old paint on a bike. Try pro form aircraft stripper. It even removes powder coat.
Wileyone is offline  
Old 05-12-20, 07:00 AM
  #9  
Sophomore Member
 
Lemond1985's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2019
Posts: 2,690
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1628 Post(s)
Liked 1,057 Times in 631 Posts
I bought some of this stuff recently, a quart of it:



I also had some airplane stripper which I used alongside of it, for comparison.

I must've gotten a particularly weak batch of aerosol airplane stripper (happens frequently in CA) or the paint on my '84 Univega was as tough as powder coating. Because i let that stripper sit for half a day, applying multiple foaming coats, and the paint not only failed to wipe off in sheets like it usually does, it just got "softened" a little bit. I had a drill with a wire brush and was making slight progress, but finally gave up, with about 80% of the paint remaining.

So I tried coating the frame with the citrus stuff. Used an old cardboard box in my bathroom with the fan going, and let it sit almost a day, re-coating with a brush several times in areas where the gel had thinned out.

Used a wire brush to start scraping the paint off. Really, all the citrus stuff does is soften up the paint a little, YOU do all the work with a brush scrubbing it off. But it does work, and you can (IMO) safely do it indoors. It's just a lot of work. I got most of the remaining paint off, now I need to re-coat a third time to get rid of the rest of the primer.

Personally, I prefer using full-strength chemicals outdoors, and getting the whole thing over quickly. But it's getting hard to find good chemicals that do the job, so the citrus stuff does technically work, just much slower.

Last edited by Lemond1985; 05-12-20 at 07:06 AM.
Lemond1985 is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.