Strip Powder Coating

As far as I know, the only way to remove powdercoating is to sandblast.

Learn to live with red, or sand it and paint over the powdercoat.

By this do you mean that Sandblasting will destroy it? Should I just
hand-sand the heck out of it?

Andrew F Martin said:

I've got an old (~1972) Coppi frame that I'd like to repaint back to a
style more consistent with it's original look (Orange with white trim).
My dad had it powdercoated red ~15 years back and it's just way
boring. Has anyone successfully stripped powdercoating without
destroying what's underneath? I'm already leery of a creak that might
be a crack in the frame. It's just a fixed gear, but I'd like it to be
purty and retro.

some companies can chemically strip powdercoating, the other method
utilizes a hot fluid bed.

The DIY method is with a propane torch and a wirebrush: heat the
powdercoat and brush it of. Thick gloves are optional 😉

--
---
Marten Gerritsen

INFOapestaartjeM-GINEERINGpuntNL
www.m-gineering.nl

Andrew F Martin said:

By this do you mean that Sandblasting will destroy it? Should I just
hand-sand the heck out of it?

Hand sanding will take approximately forever. You'll spend as much on
sandpaper as you will on having it sandblasted. Just be sure to re-face
and chase the threads on the bottom bracket afterwards.

--

David L. Johnson

__o | And what if you track down these men and kill them, what if you
_`\(,_ | killed all of us? From every corner of Europe, hundreds,
(_)/ (_) | thousands would rise up to take our places. Even Nazis can't
kill that fast. -- Paul Henreid (Casablanca).

Andrew F Martin said:

I've got an old (~1972) Coppi frame that I'd like to repaint back to a
style more consistent with it's original look (Orange with white trim).
My dad had it powdercoated red ~15 years back and it's just way
boring. Has anyone successfully stripped powdercoating without
destroying what's underneath? I'm already leery of a creak that might
be a crack in the frame. It's just a fixed gear, but I'd like it to be
purty and retro.

It depends on the coat used, and the amount of surface prep that was
done prior to coating. Some powdercoats adhere tightly, some don't;
if there are any places where you've got cracks in the coat, try
skinning off a piece with a pocket knife. You may discover that
you've got an easy job ahead...and you may also discover that there is
significant surface rust underneath. I'm betting that yours is not
going to be easy; sandblasting will work in that case, as will
judicious application of a heat gun, wooden scrapers, and wire
brushes. Some coats can be loosened by conventional paint stripper,
but it takes much longer than with paint, and may not work at all.
--
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David L. Johnson said:

Andrew F Martin said:

By this do you mean that Sandblasting will destroy it? Should I just
hand-sand the heck out of it?

Hand sanding will take approximately forever. You'll spend as much on
sandpaper as you will on having it sandblasted. Just be sure to re-face
and chase the threads on the bottom bracket afterwards.

Better idea: Round up a pair of the old-style BB bearing cups and run
them into the holes with some wadded up rags in the cavity. Put a dab
of silicone over any weep holes in the stays, and put a bolt and nut
in the der hanger hole to protect those threads. I'd even knock a
pair of scrap headset cups into the head tube, or tape the inside of
the tube and tape over the top and bottom faces to mark that area as
off-limits. Duct tape works pretty well for this.

(Actually, of course, I wouldn't have to do most of that myself, since
I've got a small sandblaster out in the garage somewhere...but I'm
well acquainted with the realities of what the people at a sandbasting
service might do if you fail to take adequate precautions.)
--
Typoes are a feature, not a bug.
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David L. Johnson said:

Andrew F Martin said:

By this do you mean that Sandblasting will destroy it? Should I just
hand-sand the heck out of it?

Hand sanding will take approximately forever. You'll spend as much on
sandpaper as you will on having it sandblasted. Just be sure to re-face
and chase the threads on the bottom bracket afterwards.

I wasn't clear enough, but I meant sanding down enough for fresh paint
to bite, and filling in any chips with a suitable filler. 😉

Sandblasting can work, I've just heard it can weaken tubes if done too
aggressively, If I could rent time on a sandblaster and do my own
frame, sure--I'd choose that method.

Then I'd have it powercoated red, as I like durable finishes. LOL