Removing the paint from a Tektro lever
 

None of the previous threads that are sort of on this subject really answered this for me.

I want to know if I can use some kind of solution, or even oven cleaner, to remove the paint from this lever (textured powdercoating? or what?)? Would a certain kind of paint remover work?

Or am I just left with sanding it off?

(Yea, boring national-holiday-Monday here at 8 degrees celsius.)

[copied from a previous post of mine]
okay, there's an awesome sticky thread at the top of the Single Speed Fixed Gear forum called the
*RESOURCE THREAD: Single Speed and Fixed Gear*

if you click on it, there's only one post, and it gives you links to all sorts of awesome threads from times past about how to do stuff to a bike, compare bikes, find tools/parts/accesories/etc, etc etc.

one of those links (it might be the first one) is called
The DIY thread


if you click that, it takes you to an awesome thread where someone compiled a whole bunch of links to threads that tell you how to do cool stuff to your bike. one of those threads is [de-anodizing parts].

granted, when i write it out like this, it seems like a lot of hoops to jump through, but really, it's easy, and everything's essentially in one place. so check that sticky thread out.

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oh btw, i'll say that after i used the oven cleaner, instead of sandpaper, i used very fine steel wool and achieved the same results.

Yeesh. The whole point, which you obviously didn't get, is that I'm not sure if the Tektro is anodized. It seems much more like a layer of paint or powdercoating. I've read every post in that thread and no where is it mentioned that the oven cleaner method will also remove paint.

So, will it, or is it not paint/powdercoating in the first place?

these crumbs are making me itch

maybe i should scratch
?

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...ookie-puss.jpg

I bet it's a powdercoat. It sure doesn't look like anodizing. That should give you a good place to start with google--there's probably some super nasty chemical that will get it right off.

Thanks, mander. I'm not wanting to remove the powdercoat enough to order some super corrosive product online. If it's possible with something I can find at the hardware store (they couldn't answer my question), I'll do it. Otherwise, meh, it's black.

It may be that an autoparts store or Canadian Tire would have something for this, but then I'm not too hot on the idea of buying a lot chemicals for one brake lever.

Paint stripper works. Sanding it with some rough paper to etch the surface will help the stripper work better. I use some stripper you pour into a spray bottle. It's thick and goopy. Leave it on for half an hour, scrub off with a small wire brush; be sure to wear gloves and some goggles, the stripper is not good for you. Small can of stripper was ~$4.

I grinded it off by falling in the skatepark.

Thanks, bbattle. I'll find the strongest paint stripper at the local store and use your method.

(My bathtub is going to be filthy and poisonous.)

I have stripped and polished a tektro lever (both the lever and the clamp) using the method described in the DIY thread. A few passes of Easy-off oven cleaner should work fine.

+1.

i posted it for a reason.

Sandpaper
 

I simply went with 100 grit sandpaper followed by a green 3M scotch pad. Leaves a nice, brushed looking surface. Dremel tool with wire wheel is another quick method and will let you get into the cramped bits.

I was looking to match the finish on my new bars - see pic

Then why didn't you just answer my original post by saying "yes, this method will work for you", since I made reference to the oven cleaner method which should also serve as a hint that I've read the DIY thread. The Tektro lever is NOT anodized, and I was right to assert that no one talked about removing powdercoating with the Easy-Off method before, let alone in the DIY thread.

Nice job, atomicbob. In fact, nice job on the stem/bars/tape, too. Is that shellacked cloth tape?
(Wish I had a dremel.)

Bar Tape
 

Thanks bexley,

Yes, that is white cloth tape + amber shellac.

If you do a lot of little customizing projects like this I would highly recommend getting a Dremel tool. Got mine for car projects but they are incredibly handy (especially the mini-cutoff wheels!) and not too expensive.

peace.

Be sure and wear eye protection when dremelling with the wire brush kids! don't be a mander and get a tiny wire bit in your eye. It flies off really fast so that a brush only lasts minutes.

USE ACETONE! takes about 3 mins depending on the stregth of acetone and it will not scratch or change the appearance of the lever. No need for steel wool or sandpaper, jsut the acetone and a rag.

Thanks mikodipo! That's cheaper and easier than Easy-Off. Good thing I procrastinated this instead of having already done it the hard way.

Wow, a toxic bugger that acetone is, eh? I always liked its smell as a kid, now I'm wondering how much I may've sniffed. Wiki:

So, women, "always use goggles" when you remove your nail polish. Maybe it's punishment for wearing nail polish to begin with.

Hmm, I got the strongest concentration of acetone available at the pharmacy and it's done nothing to the paint after 15 minutes of soaking. I tried rubbing it very hard and not even a thin layer is coming off.

Was I misled? Can I find acetone many times more concentrated? Or, mikodipo, have you actually done this with acetone and a Tektro lever?

Ugh, 30 min later and all it's done is remove my finger grease from the lever. Oh, and maybe it contributed to some cancer or liver failure in the future.

I should've known that acetone would not do a thing to powdercoating. Great, another chemical in my house that I didn't need to buy.

Just get the cheapest oven cleaner you can get your hands on, I went to the dollar tree and picked up some oven cleaner. Make sure it has LYE in it and it will eat away the anodize/paint. Works like a charm, a mask of some sort when spraying would be a good idea, **** is toxic.

Thx. Not a fan of the toxic stuff, which is why I was gullible enough to try the less-toxic suggestion of acetone. The cheapest oven cleaner I found was $6, which is barely worth it for this silly objective. That said, I will be buying some Easy-Off the next time I get bored and have more than $5 in the wallet.

bexley, I read your post wrong and was thinking it was the tektro lettering on the brake lever...Here are mine...
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2295/...12c306fc8e.jpg

you probably have a totally different kind of brake, but I would be more than happy to pay for that acetone you bought and pay for a beer if you have a paypal account!

I'm sorry!

Heheh. No problem. My bad, since I didn't specify the lever but thought most people would assume it's the cross type. I guess I'll find a girl who uses nail polish and give her one swell birthday present: a half-full bottle of acetone

I used the oven cleaner. It worked well, but I just finished and I'm a little scared of how corrosive that stuff was.

After an hour it hadn't stopped sizzling in the aluminum tray I used to spray the lever in; I just had enough of it in my bathroom (I know, bad idea, but it's raining) and I just moved it to the trash room of the apartment building. It was still emitting some warmth though, and I wondered about the possible fumes created from touching the garbage bag. Just your average noxious fumes, or really something that you don't want 1 particle of in your air?

Update: paranoia has passed since I checked the garbage bin and it hasn't melted into a puddle of toxic goo.