[CR]Model Paint Removal

(Example: Racing:Jacques Boyer)

From: "David Clementson" <dclement@speakeasy.net>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Date: Sun, 1 May 2005 20:38:54 -0700
Subject: [CR]Model Paint Removal

Thanks to all who responded to my question about removing model paint from the prior owner's truly botched job of lug lining a 1975 Bianchi.

Here's the method I found worked really well. Use pure xylene solvent, preferably in a needle-point solvent bottle (these are da bomb for handling solvents, I get mine at Tap Plastics in the SF Bay Area). First check that the xylene won't eat the base paint. I did this inside the BB shell by dabbing a xylene-soaked Q-Tip on the base paint and looking for any base color on the Q-Tip. I'd determined the base paint is xylene-safe, I ran a very small amount of xylene along the lug shoreline and let it sit for about 15 seconds. Then I wiped off the model paint with a xylene soaked Q-Tip. I did this half a shoreline at a time, tilting the frame so that the solvent stays in contact with the model paint. Where the painter was overly enthusiastic, I did the removal in two passes. Go sparingly with the solvent, as it can run along the frame and damage decals ( I learned this the hard way). I did this all outdoors with a respirator, as xylene fumes are nasty. I was able do a fine job on the Bianchi in about 20 minutes.

This frame needed a TIG weld to fix a crack in the front derailleur cable guide, so after welding and filing, I was able to mix up a pretty fair Bianchi Celeste green touch-up paint by mixing white model paint with a few drops of green, a drop of or two of blue, and about 1/10 drop of black. Any suggestions for a better formulation of Bianchi touch-up color are welcome.

Dave Clementson
Palo Alto, CA