Topic: Stripping a frame down ?

[Helo229]

Hey all - I need a bit of help..

I decided that I was going to repaint my frame, but it seriously needed stripped and cleaned before so. The bike's original owner decided that chain-lube was for pansies and used what I can only assume to be axle grease religiously on every moving part of the bike, and the last owner I bought it off of scratched the hell out of the frame removing the engine to replace a gasket.

So, I'm in the process of stripping the frame to bare metal (which I had hoped to avoid) and having a hell of a time. Is there a trick to get it undressed faster? Some red wine maybe? I used aircraft stripper for a good deal of it, and wire brushes for the heavier spots of paint/grease/tar, but it's very slow going and I want to get it finished asap, being as it's about 50% bare metal right now.

Also, what kind of paint would any of you recommend for the frame? My air compressor is on the fritz (broken regulator + tiny hole in tank) so I'm sticking to spray cans. I was going to use your everyday automotive touch-up paint, but I have to say, I was more than impressed with the finish I got from the high-temp enamel I used on my engine, but I wasn't sure how it would hold up since it wouldn't be heated/baked on.

[BobbyR]

I have been very impressed with Gloss Rustoleum Enamel. It covers very well and does not seem to chip easily. It looks very original and can be touched up easily.

[rachet]

This may not be useful to you if you are on a budget, but get a quote to have it sand blasted.  I had a frame blasted and it really cleaned the frame.  Remember to bring some latex gloves or clean rags to handle the bare metal with to prevent "flash" rust from the oils on your fingers.

Rachet~

[markb]

I agree with the blasting only I would have it bead blasted.  That's what I did on my frame and the paint really sticks.  Next time I would powder coat instead of paint.
Mark

[rbmgf7]

agreed on blasting for prep. if you have a powerful enough compressor, you can get a balsting kit for $20 and a bag of sand for $5. Then just whatever you want for safety (you can get a hood sheild for $25 and wear longsleeve shirt, pants, and leather gloves).

If you don't have the resources for blasting, do you best with stripping and sanding. Doesn't need to be bare metal, just rough. Be sure to prep really well, either mineral spirits or some other solvent.

I've used both Rustoleum enamel and powdercoating. The Rustoleum works great for the price. I also used Rustoleum metal primer before painting and then finished with a clear topcoat. Costs about $30 from primer to topcoat. Plus you can adjust to the finish of your liking, flat to gloss. Good gas and wear resistance.

Powdercoating depends on who you get if from. Check the persons work before you decided to go with them. I decided to take mine to the "big city" (2hrs away) with hopes that they've done plenty of professional jobs (when I got there turns out a guy was just doing it out of his garage. I went with him cause he gave a good price and then charged me even less when I went to pay) and knew what they were doing. At first it looked great, but when I went home and looked at it in good light, it wasn't. Some missed areas, "rough" spots, and a couple runs. The chemical resistance wasn't all that great. Gas and carb cleaner dulls the finish and makes the surface feel rough.

I later had some other work done by a guy just a couple miles down the road. Turns out this guy does mass coating work (has an oven large enough to fit a dump truck). He was a little more expensive but his work turned out far better.

Then if you chip, scratch, etc. powdercoating, you're screwed. Paint you can touch it up if you want.

[sandcastcb750]

I powdercoated many bikes. They burn off the grease, sandblast and put a hard coating which usually includes a choice of several choices of shades and glosses of black. Cost me $300-400 for all the black pieces at Applied Plastics of Norwood , MA. Did the job always in less than a week.

You must buy new rubber inserts for the swingarm/shock as the incinerate them.

[Helo229]

Well, I was looking to control my costs on this project as much as possible, so as much as I'd like to take it some place and have it stripped and powder coated, it's not going to be an option for me. I still need to purchase alot of parts for my bike, and the money it would take for a powder coat would dip into my available funds too much, which is why I'm doing all the paint myself.

I do have a sandblaster, so I guess I'll stick with that and aircraft stripper for the moment.

As for the paint, it seems from this thread and a couple others that alot of people are recommending Rustoleum. I might give that a try - what about engine paint/wheel paint? They're both formulated to withstand gas, grease, and in the case of wheel paint, even brake fluid. Would either of those be worth using over the Rustoleum?

[BobbyR]

Well, I was looking to control my costs on this project as much as possible, so as much as I'd like to take it some place and have it stripped and powder coated, it's not going to be an option for me. I still need to purchase alot of parts for my bike, and the money it would take for a powder coat would dip into my available funds too much, which is why I'm doing all the paint myself.

I do have a sandblaster, so I guess I'll stick with that and aircraft stripper for the moment.

As for the paint, it seems from this thread and a couple others that alot of people are recommending Rustoleum. I might give that a try - what about engine paint/wheel paint? They're both formulated to withstand gas, grease, and in the case of wheel paint, even brake fluid. Would either of those be worth using over the Rustoleum?

Actually after you lay down a couple of coats of Black Rustoleum Enamel you probably will not need anything else. they use a lot of pigment and the Enamel is very resistant to gas. I used a hi temp silver enamael and a leaky floatbowl dripped gas that pooled at next to the starter cover for a few day. No problems at all, I just soaked it up and no damage to the paint.

[Helo229]

Sounds good, I guess I'll return the paint I already bought (just regular touch-up spray cans) and pick up some rustoleum enamel.

[fishman_Phil]

I am in the process of restoring my CB350F and there has been some posts of it of late. For the frame I decided to do it the budget way as most of my cash was to go into parts and chrome. the frame was reasonably good and I used emery tape to rub it back where it was rough. Did not take long to attack the rough areas. sorry, before I did that I used a degreaser and kerosene to wash the whole frame down of oil, grease and dirt, washed with water and then attacked it. I was painting it with primer on the same day.
Used CRC PrimeIt over the whole thing from a spray can, checked for any areas that then required a bit of a sand and then applied more of the CRC PrimeIt. Following day a coat of CRC BlackZinc which produces a good finish but a little flat. Then followed up the following day with a a Dulux Gloss Black coat of paint. Still all from a spray can. I have the spray painting equipment and the paint, but preferred to do it this way. If it were one of my little Suzuki's from the early '60s with the pressed steel frames the spray gun would have been used.
Not sure of the countries that have CRC products, but thay have good protection from rust and chipping and can be touched up very easily. If it is not to be a concours bike, do it for looks, pleasure and comfort to the pocket, with the satisfaction you did it.

[troppo]

G`day helo229
As for stripping, whatever floats your boat....
if you can save a few bucks by doing it yourself, go for it, you cant do any damage lol
As for the paint, i havent seen "rustoleum" here in australia but everyone seems to swear by it.
One of my car forums had this link a while ago and it seems you can get some bloody good results with the stuff

http://www.rickwrench.com/index79master.htm?http://www.rickwrench.com/50dollarpaint.html

it looks like its a little time consuming but considering it cost him $50 for the whole paint-job on his car i reckon he came out ahead.....
might have to see if i can find some of this here in aus.
cheers mate
troppo