what do y'all prefer when it comes to taking a frame back downt to naked metal?

fast eddie outty

I don't know a lot about the chemical stripping process.... But someone (who's opinion I trust) reckons that chemical stripping can sometimes leave small amounts of the chemical inside the tubes in hard to get at areas. And that this can cause some damage in years to come.

Needless to say, I got my frame bead blasted.

I started off with more patience and used paint stripper and wire brushes..... But gave that up pretty quickly.....

Doesn't Dr. Deltron "BLAST" the frames he paints? Didn't he post a picture of himself doing this in the backyard?

Yes, Dr. D blasts the frames.

East Hill

I get my frames media blasted, it gives the primer a nice tooth on the metal. Just have to do a thorough clean-up and wipe down with metal prep.

I've repainted a few bikes and two motorcycles. I've always used chemical stripper (aircraft remover) just because I have no idea where or how to find anyone to blast, and I have a strong preference for DIY (read - I'm a cheapskate). I find it hard to believe, however, that there is any significant risk from residue. The stuff is highly volatile, meaning it evaporates entirely in a very short time, and it is made to remove coatings from aircraft. Intuitively, I'm doubting that a substance used for that purpose would still be around if it weakened the metal.

Also, I assume it's done, but I've always wondered how someone can bead-blast a paint like Imron off a steel surface without taking some of the steel off, too. Do they somehow choose media that are harder than the paint but softer than the steel?

Inevitably, you do remove some substrate material.
And there is NO paint that won't easily fall prey to the might of an idustrial blaster!!!
Imron, Deltron or otherwise...

POWDERCOAT on the other hand...SHOULD, in most all cases, be removed with CHEMICAL STRIPPER!

That's what's so cool about powdercoat...you can't scratch it off, sand it off, blast it off or get it off at all, without using chemical goo.

So here's a DIY custom idea;
Get your frame powdercoated in black(or any other solid, nonmetallic color). Using acrylic paint (the kind in tubes at your local ART store) customise the frame with art. First shot, you hate it. Wipe it off carefully with laquer thinner. Start again. You can use a sponge for texture, airbrushes, paintbrushes, etc.

When done, spray, or have someone spray some auto quality clear over it all.

THERE! You have a "custom" bullet-proof finish, that YDY!

Whoa, sweet idear!

GCR: Blasting around here is about the same cost as what it would take to do a chem strip (~$25).

I do. But that's my man George, doing the blasting (under my watchful eye) in HIS backyard!
(sorry, can't find the pic to repost)

I like to use plastic media and glass beads. The plasticfor paint removal and and the glass for any corrosion removal. The Plastic will not remove any metal. I also use some chemical strip and lightly blast after the paint is gone. aluminum oxide and other materials can get embeded in the frame during blasting so if the frame is not prepped properly after blast it can be an issue also.

Cheap frame, blast. Delicate details? Chem. warfare.

We found a pile of old crud off CL.
A number of frames had the paint ground off.... luckily they were mostly dept store schwinns ... but also a Sears & Ro bike that was made in Austria.

Exactly what chemicals remove a powder-coat?

My favorite is Jasco Water Rinseable Paint & Epoxy Remover. The stuff in the "shiny" can.
Lay it on thick, using a cheap 99 cent brush, and GO IN ONE DIRECTION ONLY!
Then put the frame or part in a big garbage bag and wrap it up.
Next day wire brush to remove most material.
Reapply until all the paint or powdercoat is gone.
Rinse well with water.
Dry.
Proceed with new finish.