How to remove excess powder coat?

[bakerlonglegs]

The A10 plunger build continues! I’ve got a pile of bits back from the powder coaters.  They were pretty good in masking most threads and close fit surfaces but they missed a couple and I need to remove some excess. I’ve heard that nitromors is not as strong as it used to be. Please can I ask if anyone has any recommendations for alternatives?

[bsa-bill]

can't recall the make but somthing that is sold as   "gasket remover" certainly does work AMHIIK, be careful

[RDfella]

As it's a type of plastic, wasn't aware of any solvent that was effective, but then I'm not aware of Bill's remedy. Even grit blasting is pretty ineffective! I'd suggest good old emery cloth.

[A10 JWO]

I was looking at this subject on YouTube, lots of answers using chemicals. What I saw worked well.

[coater87]

 Mechanical scraping.

 Files, pocket knife blade, carbide gasket spraper.

 Dont feel alone, they did a terrible job of masking mine also.

 I bet I have an honest 2-4 hours in powder coat clean up.

 I dont think chemicals are the answer, to easy to make a mistake.

 Lee

[RichardL]

I agree with Lee. When I forgot to ask for masking over my frame number it disappeared. I removed the powder coat with a Dremel sanding drum. It left a nice filled engraving look. My powder coater said I could clear holes with the correct size drills and threaded holes (if any in trouble) with taps.

Richard L.

[BrianS]

I have just had an issue with the powder coating on my C15 nacelle. It was so thick that the nacelle would not sit in the chrome surround! It was a shame to spoil the lovely finish but I ended up using a coarse file, a Dremel flap wheel and then an 80 grit pad on my electric sander to get it back to bare metal and provide a bit of a feathered edge to finish off with the more usual wet and dry papers 

Drill bits and taps have worked well on other frames I have had powder coated.

Brian

[Rex]

Another vote for using a Dremel. It makes short work of any unwanted overspray.

[RichardL]

My own rule, without real knowledge, is "No powder coat on tin work." My powder coater says otherwise, but it's not a look I prefer in favor of auto paint with clearcoat, and tins sometimes need beating.

Ricard L.

[Butch (cb)]

The braking surfaces on the drums on my Nimbus were coated when I bought it (it had come from static display). They cleaned up fine using a Dremel with those little drum abraders. How did I find out about this coating? It cooked up on the rear drum on the hill down to the MOT station, melted and then locked solid. How I laughed. Had a hell of a job getting the brake plate out after the boys from the station brought it home for me on their pick up.

[Greybeard]

When I had a car hood frame powder coated many years ago it was returned with a thick plastic coating that actually made it hard to hinge the hood frames. The coating felt greasy, like polythene. You get the same sort of coating on tool handles sometimes. My BSA frame came back from powder coating with a finish that looked and felt like paint. Are there different meanings to 'Powder Coating'?

[bakerlonglegs]

Thanks very much as always for all your time and experience in replying!  Time to get the Dremel out then.....

In a long series of under-estimates on this build, I think I’ve under-estimated how long this final assembly will take. Sometimes it feels I’m skipping from one “that doesn’t fit” to another “that doesn’t fit either”.    There have been more than a few moments of staring at the pile of parts on the bench that should be a bike thinking what the hell do I do next!

[Greybeard]

Just imagine the feeling of satisfaction when you get it on the road!

[dave55]

I have just got a reply from my mate who runs a powder coating shop and his answer to removing unwanted coating is to use anything that's got.....METHELENE CHLORIDE  in it , hope that helps. Dave

[Swarfcut]

     Taps and dies will easily clear threads which have been coated by mistake. Thick coatings and runs can be polished out with well soaped 400 grade wet and dry. To much pressure will cause the paper to snag on the relatively soft polyester coating.

  Methylene Chloride is nasty stuff, splashes and the vapour are detrimental to your health. It will remove most finishes, but Two Pack Vehicle Finishes are  relatively immune, so here blasting or sanding is the way to go.

 Swarfy.