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[ayios]

Hi guys...
I have stripped my Torker Flipside back to a bare frame...

I currently has bad rusty chrome on it.
Is it ok to give to the sandblaster to clean it back to metal for me?

Cheers
 

[Tim]

OK? Well it is your bike mate, but I get what you mean.
Did you soak it in Oxalitic acid yet?  That may clean it up a lot.  Also are you going to paint, powder or re chrome it? Also chrome can be harder to strip off than just paint by blasting.
If you rechroming you may not need to strip old chrome off as the platers will do that.
If painting or powdering I'd suggest you have that all lined up so the bare frame isn't sitting around oxidising for long. I try go straight from the guy who blasts to the coaters.
Let whoever is going to blast it know what you want and make sure they know what they are doing so you don't end up with holes blasted in frame as has happened for others here.
I have had a few frames garnet (like sand but harder) blasted and they come out ready to paint of powder, but when you pick it up try have gloves or a clean cloth to hold frame so none of the oils or sweat on your skin goes on frame. So no bare skin to bare frame contact. I also have a clean sheet in the back of the ute to wrap frame in when I collect so no other crud gets on it.
I'm sure some others can advise you too.
Hopefully it comes up looking great.
cheers Two twin tube torker owner Tim.



ps: I haven't got email yet, a couple after it.

[COASTY]

Noice work Tim.
Sandblasting won't remove the chrome. It will etch it so it can be powdered or painted. Like Tim said, if it's getting rechromed just give it to them. The only way to remove chrome is by a chemical treatment done at the chromers.

[ayios]

Hi Tim and Coasty

Thanks for the info.
I am going to have the bike powder coated.
So does it need to be sand blasted? Or can they powder coat right over the chrome?
Its got surface rust round the BB and seat pole part.

Cheers
Steve

[COASTY]

It wouldn't hurt to have it blasted. It would help the powder stick to the frame anyway. It needs to have the rust removed anyway and the blasting will do that.

[Tim]

I'd agree with Coasty blasting will make the surface bond with the powder coat better and the rust will be gone.  Make sure they tape up the holes when you get it powdered too.
Cheers

[ayios]

HI Tim
What do you mean by taping up the holes?

[COASTY]

The bottombracket, seatpost and head tube. If you don't you will never get a bearing cup or seatpost in there.

[Tim]

Yep those holes, when I got my Torker powdered they didnt tape the BB holes up and there was no way the bearing cups would go back in....Dremel to the rescue.  You will also want to make sure the brake mount posts are taped up if the frame has them, so the threads don't get powdered.
With the BB, seat tube, and steerer tube you tape on the inside so powder doesn't get there. If the bike has posts for U-brakes you tape where the brake slides onto post as well as making sure powder can't get inside on the thread.


Should come up sweet.

[ayios]

Thanks again fellas!

Dropped the bike frame off this morning with the sandblaster.
When I get it back ill be sure to tape up the holes!

Cheers

[Adrian H]

Before you take possession of the frame from the blasters, CHECK IT OVER thoroughly. I didnt do that with my DB Silverstreak and the SOB had blown 4 holes in the frame.

If they have stuffed your frame demand compensation AND dont pay until you are happy.

Adrian