Bike Tips - Rawing Frame
 

If you are looking for a new look but don't want to paint your frame or buy something new you may want to think about stripping your frame for a raw look. Raw frames have a nice unique look to them and can even help lose some weight (paint has weight too). What you need: Paint thinner (The kind in the spray can) Steel wool Clear Coat Sand Paper Gloves! Drummel

Now let's get started. First off you need to take your bike apart so you are left with only the frame. You can leave the headset and bottom bracket in if you want just make sure you tape it up. Now take the paint stripper and spray the entire bike down. Wait about 10 - 15 minutes. Make sure you are wearing gloves because paint stripper burns. Take the steel wool and rub down the entire frame. Most likely the paint should come off pretty easily depending on the quality of the paint stripper. Rub off as much paint as you can. You will find that there are several spots you cant get, most likely around the bottom bracket or inside an welds. Use sand paper to remove any paint that the steel wool can't get off. Make sure not to use any sand paper that is too course because it will scratch up the frame. If there are still small spots you can't get, use a drummel with a thin brush tip to get in and get the job done. Once all of the paint is stripped off you have two choices. Either put your bike together as it is or cover it with clear coat. If you do not clear coat the frame rust will fill the frame very easily. If you choose to clear coat the frame   (which is highly recommended) make sure to put at least 6 coats on. Let the frame dry for a bout a week before assembling to make sure it is totally dry and the clear coat won't ship. And that's it!