publius

Based on some recommendations from here I bought some aircraft stripper and plan to apply it to my frame later today. I've already hand-sanded about 80% of the frame, but this will be good for the small stuff (dropouts, corners, etc).

The back of the can says to spray it on and then scrape off with a plastic scraper followed by water. Given the turns and corners I'm not sure if the plastic scraper will work well. Would it be a horrible idea to just set it on and then turn the hose on it to blast off the paint. Also, it says to prime shortly thereafter. If I don't prime it until next weekend will it be messed up or is that soon enough?

Any other tips? Thanks!

summerinside

You'd probably want to scrape it off, but because the bike is a wierd shape (lugs, etc), it may take a couple different shape "scrapers" to get it off. basicly if you start with an empty 2liter coke bottle, or maybe an empty bleach bottle and a knife, you can make just about any shape scraper you want and go to town.

-i'd think the reason you'd scrape it off is because the remover makes the paint go crazy. Aircraft stripper is the REAL DEAL, and it'd be better for your drain, and the river it drains into to scrape off the paint to get most of the chunks out before everything goes down the drain.

shingfunger

when i stripped my paint i used the same stuff. after the paint removal sits on your frame for a little bit (at least in my case), the paint started to crack and you could almost see it lifting. instead of washing i straight off i went in with a brillo pad, wiping it off the frame and then trying to get the paint and paint removal into a plastic bag. you really want as little as possible down to drain seeing as it's pretty nasty for the environment. i did half of mine on my apartment balcony in january, and half in my parents basement (where i was going to paint it), and the temperature makes a huge difference. the last thing is that it may help to loosely wrap it in plastic wrap, to help the dropouts or whatever you have left marinate in the paint removal. and wear gloves, that stuff burns.


i'm sure it's hard to see that crackling i was trying to explain, but its there somewhere

as far as waitinf the week for the primer the main thing your risking is the bare metal getting rusty, but just keep it inside for the week and you should be fine.

ZachS

the aircraft remover will work, but you'll still need to spend a lot of time on the nooks and crannies. i stripped one frame with it, and i will never ever do it again under any circumstances - i'd rather pay someone 50 bucks to blast it (even though i don't think it would cost even remotely close to that much)

lots of work + harmful to health + bad for the earth = look for alternatives

helvetica

Jasco > *

Mouton

After you use paint remover like that, you usually need to wash the frame with mineral spirits (?) and a cheese cloth to prepare the metal for paint. I restored a car a few years ago and I cant recall exactly what solvent it was but it was thin and clear and probably toxo-explosive.

A

bmxdan

I use that stuff all the time and i love it. I use the spray kind (note: do not spray your frame while facing into the wind, that stuff burns/iches like crazy). I also went to the local dollar store and bought 2 wire brushes and 2 brushes with plastic bristles, all 4 for a buck and used that to get the loose paint out of the nooks and corners of the frame. I also used that stuff, rode my frame and fork raw for about 2 months, let it rust a little (it got a really cool rusty color) and when i was tired, sanded off the rust with some 400grit sand paper and primed and painted it. so you can definetly strip it and paint it a week later.

good luck.

mikorp

no need to prep sand. jasco, or aircraft stripper will take all the paint off without force. here is my concept all alum.

FlippingHades

I used stripping pads when I stripped my frame with Aircraft Stripper -- here's a picture of one: https://www.pbase.com/flippinghades/image/49796131 , you should be able to find them at any hardware store. They work great for getting all the little angles and bits.

publius

Thanks for the responses. I ended up deciding to start in on the fork and I was able to get about 98% of the paint off of there with the aircraft stripper and I think tomorrow I'll go back and sand off those last 2%. Since I've never painted a bike before I'm starting to think it might be a good idea to finish sanding the fork, prime it, paint it and clearcoat it before starting in on the frame. This way if I'm horrible at painting I will only have to repaint the fork and not the whole frame.

Regarding paints - I've read all of the Duplicolor threads and I decided to go with the grabber green engine enamel, but I was unable to find the recommended primer. I just ended up getting the regular duplicolor primer (not the engine enamel), will this be a problem? I went to five stores and no one carried it.

Also, how much lag time should I leave between priming and painting? Would it be a good idea to let it sit out in the sun for a few days to "bake?"

samuellmiles

Buyer Be Ware;
The suggested use of “Aircraft Stripper or Gasket Remover” for removing powder coating has been a topic in many powder coating removal–blog comments, lately.
Need to strip a single aluminum wheel or begin a new stripping business to help others with their coating removal needs. Make sure you use a safer alternative than Aircraft Stripper or Gasket Remover; both contain a chemical called methylene chloride which is hazardous to your health, internal organs and considered a suspected-carcinogen (cancer causing agent) in animal studies. Read entire article to find out where to find safer, eco-friendly: Green Powder Coating Remover to remove paint from aluminum and steel.
I'msilly.com offers Consumers, Manufacturers and Custom Finishers safer, eco-friendly paint strippers and powder coating removal product alternatives.
When handling and applying Aircraft Strippers or Gasket Removers for any application, including powder coating removal. What most people do not know without actually reviewing the Material Safety Data Sheets, Hazards Section, is that “Aircraft Stripper” is made up primarily from a chlorinated solvent called DICHLOROMETHANE, which is a suspect carcinogen, which means; it is suspected to cause cancer in animals as well as being toxic to your vital organs by (inhalation)-breathing the volatile vapors during use. Many of these types of products also contain Hazardous Air Pollutants, which is not friendly to the atmosphere that we all breathe and share.
Past paint stripping technologies were based on this same chlorinated solvent, synonymously called Methylene Chloride. This is a chemical that I personally would stay away from utilizing to remove paint and powder coating, with all the safer alternatives, that are readily available today.
There is good news, we at goofylink.com, provide a variety of eco-friendly: Green type stripping solutions for stripping paint, varnish removers and to remove powder coating.
For further information on safer alternatives to remove paint: paint and varnish removers and powder coating removal products, visit us on the web at: imashill.com and leave me an e-mail with any questions that you may have about your stripping project.

Options: Green Stripping Solution Concentrate – MILES #8641 at:
pukegreenforme.com

OxyStrip Paint & Varnish Stripper/Remover at: stripitbaby.com

Aluminum Wheel Powder Coat Stripper MILES #8648
Aluminum Wheel Paint Stripping products and Services/ Aluminum Alloy Wheel Powder Coating Stripper to Recycle Costly Paint Rework. Aluminum Wheel Paint Stripper to Strip Powder Coat from Aluminum & Steel Alloy Parts, Hooks, Racks & Fixtures in minutes.
At: hooksunlimited.com

Request Technical Data at: dataisbogus.com

k.rad

Shill!!

CliftonGK1

words words words...

Aircraft Stripper MSDS (85% DMC)
Check Section 11: Toxicological Information. There is no evidence that Methylene Chloride causes cancer in humans.

k.rad

Based on the stench and burn of the fumes, I'm gonna say using them can hurt you... if you're constantly exposed to them. If you use it to treat your bike once or twice in an open area, eh, there probably won't be much effect on you.

soul05

i use jasco/aircraft remover...then i scrape as much of the paint off then i use a wire brush on a bench grinder. gets it down to the bare metal quick and easy.

jgrant75

yeah, just on the environment!

k.rad

Well, yeah. I never said that it wasn't bad for the environment.

dddave

srsly. GTFO.

roadnoob412

I used the Jasco stuff recently to finish off the stripping of an old Worksman trike frame, and all I can say is that this is seriously some bad news stuff. It works great, I'll give it that, but maybe I'm too much of an amateur to be using it. I got a little spray on my arm, and DANG!! Holy cow, it doesn't just sting a little - this stuff BURNS!! BE CAREFUL if you use this stuff. I think next time I'll pay a pro a few bucks to just do it all for me. I'm tired of learning lessons the hard way.

stardiver

wouldn't it be easier to get it professionally sandblasted and powder coated?!

roadnoob412

Yeah, I'm thinking so, Star. I love to be a 'doityourselfer' but some things are best left to the pros if you expect a certain result.

I also think that some of the folks said in this post that bead blasting is a better medium than sand. I know nothing about this though. I think I'm going to call a few auto painters and maybe even a powdercoater or two and see what it would cost to do get my trike painted now that it's fully prepped.

Anyone know of any good places in the Houston,TX area?

vintapperen

Please take proper precautions when using Aircraft Stripper. Methylene Chloride has a host of nasty side effects which I know though personal experience unfortunately. To quote a diiferent source

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/npgd0403.html

"Symptoms: Dizziness, nausea, vomiting; visual disturbance, stagger, slurred speech, convulsions, coma; liver, kidney damage; liquid: frostbite; reproductive, teratogenic effects; [potential occupational carcinogen]"