Removing Powder Coating

[EigerSA]

I came across a diamond back frame that I've been looking for for ages and asked the bike shop to strip it down and send it to be powder coated. I get a phone call this week to say it's ready so I went to pick it up.

 

The bike shop couldn't get the seat post out the seat tube (not sure how hard they tried) so sent it down to the powder coaters anyway, and they in turn powder coated everything, including the seat post! Needless to say I'm not a very happy chap.

 

My question is, what's the best way to remove the powder coating (it's so thick it looks like sludge!) preferably without sanding? The frame is cromoly and the post I think is steel. Any and all suggestions welcome.

[chris_w_65]

As far as I know it has to be sand blasted. I once had an aluminium car engine part powder coated and I was unhappy with the finish. After sand blasting the part it was extremely rough and took me a hell of a long time to sand it down to a smooth finish for spray painting.

[Top Fuel]

Depends on what they use to sand blast it. I think they can now use stuff which doesn't work your product so hard. Check around with the shops before you get it done. I know it is called sand blasting but they now use all sorts of things to take off the offending material.

[chris_w_65]

Powder coating is really tough so you need quite an abrasive medium. I think my part was bead blasted but still pitted the aluminium. Perhaps you could start with something fine to try it out. Perhaps cromoly is quite tough, I don't know the material

Edited December 24, 2010 by chris_w_65

[EigerSA]

I phoned around the few places that are still open and it seems sand blasting is the way to go, but naturally everyone only opens in 2/3 weeks time. I might try sanding the fork while everyone's closed I suppose. Thanks all.

[Thug]

You can remove powder coating off a frame by spraying Permatex Cylinder Head gasket remover (available from Midas) on, letting it soak up and then peeling it off.

 

I was at one stage going to do it to my Santa Cruz and investigated the whole matter but sold the bike instead.

 

Link

[chris_w_65]

You can remove powder coating off a frame by spraying Permatex Cylinder Head gasket remover (available from Midas) on, letting it soak up and then peeling it off.

 

I was at one stage going to do it to my Santa Cruz and investigated the whole matter but sold the bike instead.

 

Link

 

Thanks for this info

[Guest Big H]

I came across a diamond back frame that I've been looking for for ages and asked the bike shop to strip it down and send it to be powder coated. I get a phone call this week to say it's ready so I went to pick it up.

 

The bike shop couldn't get the seat post out the seat tube (not sure how hard they tried) so sent it down to the powder coaters anyway, and they in turn powder coated everything, including the seat post! Needless to say I'm not a very happy chap.

 

My question is, what's the best way to remove the powder coating (it's so thick it looks like sludge!) preferably without sanding? The frame is cromoly and the post I think is steel. Any and all suggestions welcome.

 

You have a problem.... Not the powder coating. Not a good decision to send it in with the stuck seat post fitted. I just hope for your sake that the powder did not penetrate into this area. You may now have a bike with a permanently fused seat post. If not it may still be a major surgical effort to remove the seat post.

 

Penetrating oil does not help, Coca Cola does not help, if the seat post is fused due corrosion you will most likely have to perform surgery..... Go and look at the link below

 

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/stuck-seatposts.html

Edited December 24, 2010 by Big H

[duckcoza]

There is a product called Quick strip 10 from Hudson chemical here in the Cape that will do the job !! Problem is that it is like water so you are going to have to suspend the seat post into it ??? Forget sandblasting !!! Your problem is going to be the seatpost removal which could require heat and this heat is going to spoil your new powdercoating !!

[swoosh1973]

You can remove powder coating off a frame by spraying Permatex Cylinder Head gasket remover (available from Midas) on, letting it soak up and then peeling it off.

 

I was at one stage going to do it to my Santa Cruz and investigated the whole matter but sold the bike instead.

 

Link

Tried your suggestion of Permatex Cylinder Head Gsket remover. R70 a tin. Thank you..man that stuff is NAAASTY

 

Forget 15 minutes for normal automoitive paint..5 minutes and the paint bubbles and drops of the metal before your eyes..EISH IS LAAIK MAJIK!!

 

Heaven forbid some school kid gets hold of it and sprays peoples cars.

[EigerSA]

Thanks for the suggestions, going to go out today and get the gasket remover stuff. As for getting the seat post out, I'll try a few options mentioned on www.bikeforums.net that I lurk about in. I'm fine with using a bit of heat as well since the frame will be polished out to a mirror finish, she's not going to re-painted, and when done, should look like this...

 

[swoosh1973]

Thanks for the suggestions, going to go out today and get the gasket remover stuff. As for getting the seat post out, I'll try a few options mentioned on www.bikeforums.net that I lurk about in. I'm fine with using a bit of heat as well since the frame will be polished out to a mirror finish, she's not going to re-painted, and when done, should look like this...

 

I have a Specialized XC Pro dualie, which I am going to respray as well. Today after my next ride I will dismantle the bike tomorrow. Fit the components to my old silverback frame and start the prep with removing and preparing the bike for respray.

 

I have ordered a SRAM 2X10 group set from Buycycle and cant waite!

 

I tried the permatex on a powder coated (Manatou black fork). It softens the powder coating to the point where you can scratch it of with a finger nail but unlike the automotive paint does not just bubble and drop off on its own.

 

will post before and after pics.

[Thug]

Glad it worked !!

[javadude]

Thanks Thug, going to try this on an old steel frame. Haven't had much joy with regular paint stripper.

[Azonic]

NitroMors

 

http://www.wilkinsonplus.com/content/ebiz/wilkinsonplus/invt/2688940/2688940_m.jpg

[EigerSA]

Not sure if Nitromors is aggressive enough for powder-coating? Works ok'ish on furniture lacquer with multiple applications but I think powder-coated items may be a bit harder.