I recently purchased a 2005 Scott CR1 SL frameset which I plan to use for a lightweight bike that I am currently building for a friend of mine. He is on a tight budget, so I am trying to loose a much grams as possible for the least amount of money. One of the things I have been thinking about, is stripping the clear coat of the frame. I tried this before a while back with Carbolift but it didn't do the trick for me. I don't feel like sanding it down or using a razorblade, so that is why I am considering to get the frame soda blasted.

I know of two forum members who had there frames soda blasted: 'johnymac' (Dean) and 'stumpys' (Scott Plasma). I sent a PM to both, but no replies so far. Does anybody have any experience with soda blasting on carbon fibre? From what I have read online so far it should be safe to use on carbon fibre...

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meanwhile any experiences with soda-blasting??????

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sorry vor mai bed englisch!

I got a litespeed c1 soda blasted, the results were not good. There were so many deep gouges and the finish looked so bad that I ended up having to use a ton of bondo and just did a cheap rustoleum spray paint. Whether this was because the blasters were not skilled with doing carbon fiber (they said they had done a lot of cf car parts), or because of the workmanship of the frame, I don't know.

But I wouldn't do it again for any frame I actually cared about, luckily I didn't for this one.

thanks for answering.
i sent a stevens slc carbonframe for soda-blasting to Company "Mr. Soda Blaster" in Berlin/Germany.
Just talked to the owner, concerning potential damages in the frame-surface. He said, he is always starting at the bottom bracket area-if there show any problems, like yours, he stops and sends the untreated frame back, if paint-removing works without any damages, frame can be stripped.
lets see, i will report when frame is returned to me.

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sorry vor mai bed englisch!

For info, my Ti frame was soda blasted when it was repaired. Not sure I'd be keen on doing carbon though.

What will you do to protect the frame if you remove the clearcoat?

I would not soda blast a carbon frame. Just get a razor and sandpaper, its easy. No harsh chemicals, you can keep an eye on the depth.

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The razor is the best way to do it! But a skilled blasterguy should not have any trouble with soda. You van even use normal fine sand if you just watch out and be careful. I toke some parts once and tried to destroy them with my sandblaster and it really took a long time for some parts.

964Cup - you do not need to protect the frame. Works fine without anything.

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I used a razor blade to remove all the paint from a 2000 Trek 5200 carbon frame, it took me about 3 hours start to finish and it shed 80g. The finish turned out pretty good, its hard to get the paint off the cable stops so I left them and I did knick the carbon a little deep in two spots but I have ridden the frame for a whole year since I did this and have had absolutely no problems with it. I am a commercial painter by trade and I choose this method over using a chemical paint removal method because of simplicity and I didn't want to take a chance damaging the carbon with a solvent.

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Is that how it's done? and I'm assuming we shouldn't be concerned to use this same technique on carbon?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqDNFvj4WqM

if you scape your frame the way the guy in your video does it the blade will dig into the frame, when I scraped my frame I dragged the blade backward at a steep angle and that peels a thin strip of paint off without digging into the carbon.

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Good call, thanks, better ask...BEFORE!

you need a light touch, too much pressure and you'll peel a strip out of your frame, and go length wise down the tubes, BTW you can throw your warranty away as soon as you do this to your frame.

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Of course! It's a second hand 2010 Scott spark, old paint.

I am riding on a 2009 Tarmac frame and I am a bit bored of the color scheme now.

Peeling off all the paint sounds like a good idea. Totally different frame for free
But, do you guys recommend to ride a frame naked like that?
I am living near seaside, which means salt. Also strong sunlight can be a problem I guess?

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