Refurbishing aluminium frame

Retro1702 · Apr 28, 2011

Just had a rethink about my stable of bikes, I've let my main road bike go to get in a CX bike for summer road riding & winter racing, but it's got me thinking I should perhaps refurb my 10 year old Specialized Allez Comp.

How much of an issue is it to get an aluminium frame resprayed? Presumably it's not just a case of strip down and then send off to specialist frame painters (Bob Jackson did my 653 frame a couple of years ago)?

I'm guessing powdercoat might be an option but also presume they can't just coat an already painted frame and it would need the old finished to be removed first?

I've been using this frame as my specific turbo training bike for a year or so too, so would a frame finisher be able to assess if any damange had been done in terms of the forces to the bottom bracket area before I undertook the work?

Also, does anybody know the RAL code for Specialized Team Red? Was thinking of just going for a one colour finish instead of the pearl white/blue/orange the frame currently is.

drystonepaul · Apr 28, 2011

Aluminium frames can be resprayed or powder-coated just as easily as one another.
Many painters or coaters will quote a price which includes stripping and prepping the frame. Just make sure that your aluminium frame doesn't get sand blasted or caustic acid dipped, as both will remove the paint but also damage the frame.

Aluminium frames can be media or bead blasted,which essentially means that soft plastic beads are used instead of harsh abrasive sand or grit.

To save some cash you could strip it with Nitromors and alot of patience. Be aware though that the metal will have to be completely free of any paint or residue before it can be coated. The main tubes are easy, but I've had to resort to a soft copper brush mounted in a Dremel to clean up the welds and various nooks and crannies on aluminium frames.

To be honest it's easier just to get it professionally stripped, as it's not really cost effective to do it yourself unless time is a luxury and you like a challenge.

Most specialist frame painters and builders like Bob Jacksons will have alot of experience and know which bits of the frame to mask off. They will also be able to accurately check frame alignments too.

Industrial powder coaters can be considerably cheaper, I've paid as little as £20 for frame and forks, but make sure they know that threads etc will need masking off. You could do that yourself too before dropping it off.
Quality can also vary considerably so it's a good idea to go for a company who has been recommended.

Retro1702 · Apr 28, 2011

drystonepaul":sb8xxzg7 said:
Aluminium frames can be resprayed or powder-coated just as easily as one another.
Many painters or coaters will quote a price which includes stripping and prepping the frame. Just make sure that your aluminium frame doesn't get sand blasted or caustic acid dipped, as both will remove the paint but also damage the frame.

Aluminium frames can be media or bead blasted,which essentially means that soft plastic beads are used instead of harsh abrasive sand or grit.

To save some cash you could strip it with Nitromors and alot of patience. Be aware though that the metal will have to be completely free of any paint or residue before it can be coated. The main tubes are easy, but I've had to resort to a soft copper brush mounted in a Dremel to clean up the welds and various nooks and crannies on aluminium frames.

To be honest it's easier just to get it professionally stripped, as it's not really cost effective to do it yourself unless time is a luxury and you like a challenge.

Most specialist frame painters and builders like Bob Jacksons will have alot of experience and know which bits of the frame to mask off. They will also be able to accurately check frame alignments too.

Industrial powder coaters can be considerably cheaper, I've paid as little as £20 for frame and forks, but make sure they know that threads etc will need masking off. You could do that yourself too before dropping it off.
Quality can also vary considerably so it's a good idea to go for a company who has been recommended.

Cheers Paul.
I might speak to my contact at Bob Jacksons & see how much we're talking to get it done. Have to say I was very happy with the paint-job they did on my last frame.

I took an unfinished frame I bought cheaply on eBay to a local powdercoaters and subsequently had issues with the bottom bracket threads. They had been recommended for bike frames but I guess they either didn't do a great job of masking the shell or it was an issue with a "too good to be true" eBay frame (seller claimed they were made by Dawes) and the BB threads were dodgy anyway.

cyfa2809 · Apr 28, 2011

i use nitromors and a paint prush and dab it on, that way it bubbles better

thats what it says to do on the tin i think

i dont really have any trouble apart from the size of my brush

Scarfacexxx08 · Apr 29, 2011

Whem i stripped my Cannondale i used nitromores with a brush and dabbed it on leaving it 15 mins and dabbing some more on, leave it for another 15 mins then rub it off with wire wool and make sure you're using adequate gloves!

cyfa2809 · Apr 30, 2011

pfft gloves!
i did some of mine with my bare fingers

it does kind of sting when it gets on your arms though!

JimNicho · May 3, 2011

Nitromoors and wire wool... Brings the paint off in seconds... I too had to use a wire brush for the fiddly bits.

I've started polishing mine too... with various grades of wet & Dry.

God alone knows how I'm going to polish around the cable guides, drop outs etc...

The Rookie · May 3, 2011

I stripped my Carrear Kraken frame and sprayed myself, the flexible coating used by Carrera was a beatch to get off, had to sand it heavily before the nitromors would touch it, then it was scrape, wire wool and scotchbright until I finally got it all off.

Etch primed and then sprayed at home with 'rattle cans' then laquer, a nice metallic purple (you'll see a lot on last shape Fiesta's) and reasonably tough now!

As for BB, I'd insert a sacrificial one while it gets powder coated if going that route!

Simon

Refurbishing aluminium frame

Retro1702

Dirt Disciple

drystonepaul

Retro1702

Dirt Disciple

cyfa2809

Scarfacexxx08

cyfa2809

JimNicho

Retro Guru

The Rookie

Dirt Disciple

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