Restoring a vintage Dumpster Bike

Step 5 Prepare the frame

If the frame isn't steel (CrMo, aluminium, carbon fiber) then this instructible won't tackle preparation of the frame.  If your budget extends to it, try sandblasting the frame.  This is much easier to obtain a frame which has the rust removed.

Many vintage bikes will have a steel frame. Old bikes will most likely have a rusty frame.

This slide will show you how to prep the frame to remove all of the rust and get the frame ready for painting.

1. Safety Gear.  Don your gloves, eye protection and long sleeves to avoid any paint stripper burns.
2. Paint stripper.  paint the frame with paint stripper, wait a couple of hours then scrape it off.
3. Rust removal.  Use a wire brush to remove the large rust spots.
4. Surface finish.  Use the wet&dry sandpaper starting with 80-grit then working down to 1200-grit paper.  remove the surface irregularities and rust etc. until the frame looks shiny and smooth.

This step is an absolute pain.  It will take you four to five hours at a minimum and it may be better to spend a little more and get someone to sandblast and powdercoat the frame.