i'm looking to strip some paint off a frame and i was wondering how this is properly done. thanks, bike nerds.

go to your friendly neighborhood lowes or home depot and get some aircraft paint stripper and some plastic roll. Apply the stripper in a well ventilated area and cover with the plastic. Let it sit for the recommended time on the container and remove with a scraper

edit: im not sure how this would work on an Al frame though. steel is fine

There you go, dink.

mucho gracias. and it is steel so it'll be fine.

Are you repainting or leaving raw steel?

I've done it a few different ways. I stripped and Aluminum frame with Aircraft stripper and it came out flawlessly. While I tried it on a steel road frame and didn't come out so great. Then I did steel frame with just a wire wheel and it turned out great. I wouldn't do an aluminum with a wire wheel as it would probably eat into the frame. A lot of places that make cementary headstones do sandblasting and you can ask them. The Aircraft stripper is some pretty harsh stuff so do it where there's fresh air and don't get it on your skin cause it burns. Oven cleaner will do it also and most dollar stores carry it also cause paint stripper is pricey for one can.

I stripped an old Huffy Le Tour (freebie frame) with aircraft stripper. I didn't wrap it in plastic, but that seems like a good idea. I just let it sit on the frame for about 15 minutes and the paint comes off easily.

Though I would recommend using a plastic scrapper to remove the paint when it hangs off. A metal one could scratch the frame.

Everything I said seems obvious, but I in no way mean to be condescending. And yeah, are you gonna repaint? What's the big picture here?!

i stripped an aluminum frame and then sold it and everyone was sketched out that it wasn't clearcoated because they were worried about oxidation.

i don't think it's a big deal unless it's left untreated for years and years, but whatever.