Paint prep question
 

My wife's touring bike is due for a fresh paint job. As I prep the frame,stripper and sandblasting, what about the oils and grease in the ST and BB? What is the best way to eliminate them?
Thanks!

Tom- Did you apply a rust inhibitor (FrameSaver) inside the tubes too? If not than I would just use a solvent first, maybe kerosene or a SafetyKleen shop tank. Any chemical paint removal should be done before blasting, and its residue removed too. Next would be a water and dish soap cleaning. A THOROUGH drying needs to be done before any blasting. I find that heating up the frame will quicken the internal moisture/oil evaporation. I've used an industrial heat gun and an open oven, heard of others who just light up the torch and "go lightly". What you don't want to happen, after the blasting, is to see the internal moisture/oil weeping out at vent holes or the ends of the tubes. So if there's stuff inside the tubes you need to try getting it out (and this is the best reason to have two vents in each tube).

Paint stripping and prep for the redo is messy and time consuming work. Have spent time with Doug Fattic I know that you know the value of a good paint job. And that starts with good prep. At one time Cleveland had a few furniture refinishers that used huge dipping tanks to strip with, and had done bike frames too. When I had my shop (on Coventry Rd) I heard of some guy out in Chardon who chemically stripped stuff (for industrial maintenance IIRC) but never was able to find him. These days with the regulations on nasty chemicals strippers are fewer and farther between. Thankfully we don't do this for pay:). Andy

I did use Frame Saver. So suppose I could "flush" the interiors out with a solvent?

the term sand blasting makes me nervous, assuming a more bike frame media is being used :D

A generous application of Brake Kleen spray will flush out any grease from the inside of the frame. Frame saver should be solidified and not be a problem unless you are heating it, as in powder coating. My powder coater has a strip tank that he puts frames in and that seems to remove everything from inside and outside of the frames.

Thanks. Since I am not "heating " it it appears that it is not something I need to worry about.