You might be surprised...

[The Black Monark]

...by how good the paint actually is on your old bike:

 

[kingfish254]

YOWZA!

 

[Rockit!]

Yep. Every time I see somebody post about sending their frame out to be blasted..........

 

[ifitsfreeitsforme]

holy cow

 

[kingfish254]

Share your secret.

 

[The Black Monark]

Share your secret.

Time for Chili's am walk, will do on return

 

[DeuceWheeler]

subscribed!

 

[mikeeebikey]

I only see 1 extra layer, you are doing good!

 

[The Black Monark]

No secret really:

steel wool, Flitz, cotton cloth, elbow grease.
There's no paint over the orig on this bike, what you're seeing is patina: dirt and oxidation accumulated over the decades. Used the steel wool with a bit of water, then followed up with the flitz. Careful of burning thru the paint, and use extra caution on and around darts and stripes.
This bike would have come out beautifully, but unfortunately had 2 unskilled braze repairs
Working on another now, will post pics asap.

 

[chepe13]

Nice, I like to use motor oil wight he steel pad, cuts right through all the gunk.

 

[Walker]

rub rub rub rub rub rub rub rub rub rub rub rub rub rub rub rub rub rub rub rub
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[The Renaissance Man]

Looks like your almost finished...
When you get the last bit of that shiny red removed, you'll have a great looking black frame there!

 

[yoothgeye]

My paint restore "secret" has been mag wheel polish (has some bite like a rubbing compound) and fine (0000) steel wool, dip the wool in the polish and rub it till you're deep enough and then wipe with clean cloth rag.