Paint removal from Alu/carbon frame
 

I'm planning on repainting my 89 trek 2300. I'm debating on whether to have it blasted and masking off the carbon or using chemical removal. It seems like the chemical removal could get messy if it spilled onto the carbon... damaging it. If I go with blasting it, I was wondering what the best method of masking off the carbon would be, what sort of tape or material would protect the carbon best?

Who is doing the blasring? They should know what tape to use. This isn't normally a job for a home set-up unless you have the softer media. You can blow right through aluminum with sand.

Duct tape.

Couple layers if you are using a smaller blaster, 4 or 5 if it's a large industrial blaster.

If you are planning to use a home blaster that is syphon feed....forget it!
You need to use a PRESSURIZED blaster.
I use #60 mesh SAND in this unit. Works perfectly. Like airbrushing with sand. It would still take a concerted effort to blast holes through the frame using this set-up.

To spare the frame even more, I use Jasco Paint Stripper first, then do a final cleanup with the blaster, just before primering.

But... DO NOT USE CHEMICAL STRIPPER ON CARBON FIBER!!!

So duct tape the carbon, blast the rest, PRIMER, ...THEN remove the duct tape.
Clean up the edge and remask with quality painters tape and proceed.

This blaster was about $125 at Harbor Freight.