Removing paint...chrome frame?
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 59
Likes: 0
From: Ottawa, Canada
Bikes: 1982 Miele roadie, 1990s Avp-Pro hybrid
Removing paint...chrome frame?
I was wondering how well paint stripper works for removing paint because I want to take the paint of my steel bianchi and clearcoat it to have a bare/chrome frame. Is this realistic? I also want to remove rust without scratching the metal, would polish or CLR work best for this?
#2
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,900
Likes: 2
From: San Leandro
Bikes: Eddy Merckx Corsa Extra, Basso Loto, Pinarello Stelvio, Redline Cyclocross
Usually the chrome is only polished where it would show. But gel paint stripper will take the paint off quite effectively.
#4
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 471
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by Granny
Bare and chrome are two very different things.
This cant be stated strongly enough!
If you think you are going to strip paint and find chrome, you are waaaayyyyyyy wrong!
The amount of time you would have to spend polishing the metal just to make it shine would kill you. Sending it to a chromer might work. Lots of them available on the internet.
#5
Former Hoarder

Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 11,734
Likes: 9
From: Portland & Yachats, OR
Bikes: Steve Rex, Seven Axiom, Felt Z1, Dave Moulton Fuso
#8
Former Hoarder

Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 11,734
Likes: 9
From: Portland & Yachats, OR
Bikes: Steve Rex, Seven Axiom, Felt Z1, Dave Moulton Fuso
The Pinarello was fully chromed, then covered with a clear black paint - most likely a powdercoat. The goal was to get the sheen of the chrome to shine through. Painting over chrome was fairly common for some Italian framebuilders back in the 80's and maybe longer.
Here's a closeup of before - look around the edges of the lug where the paint was peeling.
Here's a closeup of before - look around the edges of the lug where the paint was peeling.
#9
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,916
Likes: 2
From: Perth, Australia and sometimes Penang Malaysia
Bikes: Litespeed L1r, Litespeed Ghisallo 07, TCR Advanced Team SL 0 ISP, Giant TCR Advanced SL, Giant TCR Advanced Team - T-Mobile, Giant Propel Advanced SL
Bottom line is that the frame was completely chrome and this is why it looks good with the paint off.
Bare steel on the other hand might look horrible, it would depend on how carefully the welds were done etc..
Bare steel on the other hand might look horrible, it would depend on how carefully the welds were done etc..
#12
Full Member


Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 436
Likes: 124
From: Northern NJ
Bikes: 1987 Pinarello Montello, 1996 Litespeed Classic, 1996 Colnago Master Light, 1997 Litespeed Ultimate, 2006 Opera Leonardo FP, 2006 Pinarello Paris FP, 1984 Pinarello Record, 89-ish Cornelo Profilo, '86 DeRosa Professional SLX, '87 Merckx Corsa Extra
The Pinarello was fully chromed, then covered with a clear black paint - most likely a powdercoat. The goal was to get the sheen of the chrome to shine through. Painting over chrome was fairly common for some Italian framebuilders back in the 80's and maybe longer.
Here's a closeup of before - look around the edges of the lug where the paint was peeling.
Here's a closeup of before - look around the edges of the lug where the paint was peeling.
This thread shows my test on an early 80s Pinarello Record and the gel material I used: Early 80s Pinarello Record - New Winter Project
And, case in point for Pinarello labels on a later 80s Montello:

For removing rust from chrome, I use a ball of tin-foil and WD_40. Just wipe gently and be amazed.
Last edited by CyclingFool95; 06-01-20 at 04:09 PM.











