Do you have a favorite stripper?

[brentville]

No, I don't mean Lacy at the Seventh Veil or Chiffon at the Body Shop! I mean a preferred chemical stripper for removing paint from an old frame. I get real tired of sanding sanding sanding and thought I might put better chemistry to work.

What's everyone use?

 

[yeshoney]

I use a brand called Rock Miracle. I have found that this stuff works the quickest and will loosen and remove multiple layers of paint at once. It is EXTREMELY caustic as the slightest bit on any pourous skin will cause immediate discomfort, burning and pain! If left untreated on clothing it will eat right through it and at the same time dries in 15 minutes if left out in the open. Good Stuff!

Joe

 

[thatismytruck]

Ian and I have been wondering what you use, Joe. thanks.

 

[Chainsaw]

I've used a stripper that I bought at Walmart, it had something to do with aviation paint stripping, or so it said. Can't think of the name of it and they don't sell it at the Wally's around here anymore. As a kid we used to use ZipStrip brand on anything and it worked pretty good, even on old V.W.s (oops!).

In some cases, a night of dancing with Chiffon may warrant a chemical stripper. :wink:

 

[Jay Moore]

i use jasco. you can get it at any hardware store. takes the paint off in minutes. just don't get on your skin. the paint will come off in sheets and what doesn't come off right away you can wipe it off with cardboard or any thing like that. so far thats the best stuff i've ran across.

 

[xddorox]

Chiffon :?: :!: :?: Is that from the burlesque days?

 

[tikiharl]

The aviation aerosol stripper that Chainy was talking about is the best I have found. The spray on application makes it very easy to control. I found it at Walmart in the auto dept. near the bondo. Not in the paint dept.This stuff works great,so of course it is very caustic. Wear protection !!!!! :wink:

 

[B607]

I take frames to the radiator shop. The guy puts them in his cleaning tank overnight, no charge. They are stripped clean when I come back the next morning. No mess, no fuss, no chemicals burning me. B607

 

[buzzy]

The aviation aerosol stripper that Chainy was talking about is the best I have found. The spray on application makes it very easy to control. I found it at Walmart in the auto dept. near the bondo. Not in the paint dept.This stuff works great,so of course it is very caustic. Wear protection !!!!! :wink:

this is what i use also

deffrent lable but same stuff

http://www.wmbarr.com/product.aspx?catid=72&prodid=135

 

[old school 64]

The stuff from Wallyworld is made by "Klean Strip" and is just called premium stripper..it is in the bodyman's section and does work great ! Spent my weekend stripping down my beach cruiser with it and was really happy..went through all three coats pretty easily..BUT yes, be careful with your skin..wear some type of glove ! Found a couple of cuts I was not aware I had !!

 

[Buck Masterson]

I use this stuff from Menards called Citrustrip. No harmful toxins, smells perdy, and brush on walk away and next morning wipe it off. I used it to strip a car and it did a very good job.

 

[Rustinkerer]

Don't forget the safety goggles!! I don't personally know any horror stories involving paint stripper, but once when I was a young, dumb lad, I was cleaning a lawn mower carb with gumout spray, and it shot back in my eye! :shock: THAT was pain! ~Adam

 

[Markm]

Ive used some flexible fender paint remover from the auto store...works good but burns like heck!!!
Ive since aquired some disposable plastic aprons :idea: :idea:

 

[Anonymous]

The fastest/best I've ever used is MEK...It will strip original Schwinn paint down to bare metal in one swipe.

I probably got cancer from using it bare handed back in the day...we were just kids.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butanone

 

[brentville]

So the bottom line with all strippers, chemical or errr... otherwise, is to always use protection to avoid that unpleasant burning sensation.

 

[tikiharl]

MEK, Well if you get cancer from that stuff then I'm in the same boat. We used it to clean parts off of airless paint sprayers,no protection,no sense.I would stay away from it as a stripper. It is like water and you have no control over it like you would the gel or aerosol types.

 

[Buck Masterson]

That is why I use the citristrip. You can use it indoors, with no toxic chemicals. You can get it on your skin, and it won't harm you. http://www.citristrip.com/ The whole house smells like oranges.

 

[hutch73]

i'm with buck on the "citristrip". it has a somewhat pleasant chemically smell. i still laugh when i tell someone i have to go to the store to buy stripper.

 

[fast eddie]

ive tried the citrus stuff, it worked good enough. for stripping a whole frame i have reverted back to my drill and a cup wire brush. i can do it in my garage w/out flammable fumes, and wire brushes for pipe cleaning get in the kraks-n-krevices pretty good. for parts smaller than a frame i cant justify harch chemicals, the risk of, the storage of, etc... for forks, seat posts, brake arms, etc...a wire brush on the drill press works best. im thinkinf of maybe putting a lare wire brush/wheel on one side of a table top grinder. it works sooo fast. and dont forget the protective eyewear and facemasks!!!
fast eddie

 

[familytruxster]

I know this is an older post but I thought I might revive it.

So, about two weeks ago the radiator on the Burb sprung a leak. Seeing as how the radiator was a little over a year old I yook it back to my local mom and pop radiator shop to see if it could be replaced under warranty. I had other motives as well. I had remembered that B607 had talked about getting bicycles stripped at his radiator shop.

by B607 on Mon Dec 29, 2008 2:30 pm

I take frames to the radiator shop. The guy puts them in his cleaning tank overnight, no charge. They are stripped clean when I come back the next morning. No mess, no fuss, no chemicals burning me. B607

As it turns out I have two industrial bikes that need some paint, rust and sticker removal. While I was at the shop I asked the owner where his boil out vat was. He took me out back and showed it to me and told me what he used in it. I asked him if he had ever stripped a bike and he said no but we can try when ever I wanted. I had my girls Worksman that was stripped doen to nothing but frame at the house. My Schwinn HD still had some parts that were stuck in it. I really wanted to see what it would do anyway. So I went and dropped it off. This one actually took about two days to strip completely. Here are some before and after pictures.
When I was going to drop it off

When I picked it up

I had to sand it down a little when I got it home. It took me about 30 minutes to smooth out all of the rough spots.

Here it is now after a little self-etching primer