Hi all, after i removed the 2 broken off bolts in the zilla frame, Now comes the time to strip all the paint, prime, paint and clear coat it. Well, Sandblasting SUCKS, its taking paint off verry slowly, and I'm going to end up going broke in sand...plus its making my compressor run nonstop. Although, on small parts like a arms and small frame parts, it works great. I have heard of Aircraft Stripper, but also heard it is nasty stuff to use. Anybody have any suggestions? Its almost worth taking to a body shop and having it done by them, the same thing is happening on my ancient graydon nerf bars also. Just seems like I use a quart of sand getting a few square inches down to bare metal. Thanks guys![img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-blush.gif[/img]

 

I've tried just about everything in the past and sand blasting works the best. But, I've never done it myself. Take it to a paint shop that has better equipment and they will have it done in no time.

 

Sandblasting is the way to go. Another place for you to look check out to do your sandblasting is a place that makes monuments. Like the businesses that make tombstones. Yes it may sound screwed up going there. But they use sandblasters in there line of work. Some will do side jobs blasting other things. I have a buddy who went to one with his old Harley trike frame. They blasted his frame and cargo box on his servi-car for only $40. I really didn't think it was to bad of a price to pay. Stripped down to bar metal. No sand to purchase or clean up either. Call around to see if any of them will do it for you. The shop worker thought it was a nice break form doing tombstones all day.

 

Hey guido, how much does it cost you on avg to get your frames blasted? Taking it to a tomb stone place sounds good, will just have to throughly explain myself...ya know??

 

Hey Mike,
What kinda budget are you running on? As for paint and clear coat this will look great in the short term but the clear will get destroyed in time. For about 200-250 bucks I send my frames to the powdercoat guy in my area. For this price they strip it and Powder coat it and it holds up so much better then paint. Both my zilla's where done like this and the lastest Zilla I bought a brand new frame for it and he removed all the blue paint and powder coated it yellow for me. Now powder coat isn't bullet proof but it is harder than the paint. A friend of ours painted his warrior and I had my brothers warrior powdercoated when I built it, they almost always ride together so they go throught the same things and his paint is trashed and my bros still shines. He is going to take his back apart and have it powder coated. If you are still going to sand blast and paint, take it to some one like mentioned above, it will be cheaper on you, and use an epoxy paint, be be sure you have the skills to work with a specialty paint.

 

Hey Penn, yeah I'm on a pretty limited budget. I was origianlly just doing this, since there was some rust on the frame and I didnt want it to get any worse, next time I tear it down I'll powder coat it [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]
Thanks for the advice.

 

<< Hey guido, how much does it cost you on avg to get your frames blasted? Taking it to a tomb stone place sounds good, will just have to throughly explain myself...ya know?? >>



I had the powder coating place do it and I believe I paid $30 for the sand blasting and then $150 for the powder coating.

 

Hey,
Last night at sears, I picked up some premium stripper in a can, bought 2 cans. It seems to remove the paint quite well and your could pretty muchjust pull the old paint right off. So I will probably just let this stuff and sand blast the residue off. Hope fully doing it this way will save enough money to go buy a new needed linkage bearing. Thanks guys, I'll update this soon.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

The powder coat thing is good. Patio furniture places are locations here in Houston that do it.

Also if you know someone or have a machine shop they usually have a vat for dipping the heads, blocks, etc before they start machining. The acid in these vats will strip off just about anything. A heated vat will do it in an hour or so. After that just rinse with water and you have bare metal.


Rob

 

I sprayed the stuff on yesterday and took the sandblaster to it today...worlds difference. The trick is, to let the stripper dry over night, then blast off the paint/stripper residue. Works great. Next time zilla needs a rebuild, it'll definetly have to be powdercoated. Just right now I have too many new odds and ends to buy. Thanks to everyone for their help.