Striping paint off and seal bare metal?

[njbshark]

I am starting my second build. I have an old frame that I want to strip all the old multi-layers of paint off of and seal the bare metal. I am going for and industrial raw look.
What is the best was to strip the paint and what product should I use to seal it. I was going to go with paint stripper and a spray poly sealer. Am I on the right track?

[2door]

njb,
If you don't want to take the frame to a professional stripper, (sand blast) place then a good commercial paint stripper is the best bet. You can always just sand it but that is a time consuming project. Bead blasting is the best way. The pros use blast media that will leave the frame smooth and ready for whatever coating you choose. As for protecting bare steel any good polyurethane should give you a good finish. They have gloss, semi-gloss and flat, for that rat rod look. Hope this helps. You can always check out the Eastwood Company for their many products for the purpose.
Tom

[eomonkeyboi24]

I used aircraft grade paint stripper. Don't breath it in and also wear gloves. You can find it at carquest or many hardware stores. The lacquer finish should be fine just used a few coats to make sure you got it all. Its fun to watch the paint being lifted off the bike. Steel wool is great for getting the lifted paint off the frame. I'd have to thank leftywoody AND terronthesnake for all this info.

Here's a pic of my paint stripping in action.

[njbshark]

How about sandblasting chrome off? I want to take all the metal parts to the base to complete that look.

[TerrontheSnake]

Originally Posted by eomonkeyboi24

I used aircraft grade paint stripper. Don't breath it in and also wear gloves. You can find it at carquest or many hardware stores. The lacquer finish should be fine just used a few coats to make sure you got it all. Its fun to watch the paint being lifted off the bike. Steel wool is great for getting the lifted paint off the frame. I'd have to thank leftywoody for all this info.

Here's a pic of my paint stripping in action.

Hey I helped

[2door]

Sand, or bead blasting chrome complerely off is a tall order but it can be done. A good chrome plating job is actaully three layers of material; copper, nickel and chrome. To get down to base metal will take some aggresive blasting. I would seek the advice from a bead blasting shop on that. They might offer some options. Check your yellow pages for a local sand blast company.
Tom

[TerrontheSnake]

Or do this to remove the chrome. Put three gallons of water in a plastic bucket. Add one cup of Muriatic acid (water before acid Visa Versa it will explode) use three large copper wires and hang them into the solution connect them to the negative terminal of a car battery charger for a ground. Then connect the item to be stripped to the positive (using a coat hanger for the dipper is a good idea) then dip the object into the solution and wait a few minutes. Be careful when removing because this is a viscious acid, you dont want to touch it at all. Your chrome should be gone by reverse electrolysis. Dispose of the chemicals in an acceptable manor...O and you don't want to do this indoors, unless there is some serios ventilation going on.

[TerrontheSnake]

When done use a good detergent to remove all acid before touching by hand, also the cleaning needs to happen right after the removal otherwise the metal will oxidize badly.

[TerrontheSnake]

O yeah and dont let the item touch the ground wires at all while dipping

[eomonkeyboi24]

Originally Posted by TerrontheSnake

Hey I helped

Sorry you totally spaced my mind. I changed it.