A question for those that have repainted suspension forks

[gdb2b]

May I enlist the help of forum members herein about refinishing tips and advice?

For those of you that have refinished or stripped and repainted a suspension fork, would you share your experiences relative to the following questions?
Chemical strip versus blasting - which one did you prefer, which yielded betters results and why?
If you did blast it, did you remove the fork decals first? How/with what?
Spray finish or powdercoat - which is preferred and why?
If powdercoat, what did the coater do to prevent paint powder from getting inside the fork chambers?
Did the subsequent heat treatment warp or distort the lowers? Is this even a concern?
What did you use for primer or base coat (especially critical on forks with alloy/magnesium lowers)?
Did you apply a top clear coat?

After you did your first one, what would you change doing the next one?

 

[MiniNinjaRob]

Re: A question for those that have repainted suspension fork

May I enlist the help of forum members herein about refinishing tips and advice?

For those of you that have refinished or stripped and repainted a suspension fork, would you share your experiences relative to the following questions?
Chemical strip versus blasting - which one did you prefer, which yielded betters results and why?
If you did blast it, did you remove the fork decals first? How/with what?
Spray finish or powdercoat - which is preferred and why?
If powdercoat, what did the coater do to prevent paint powder from getting inside the fork chambers?
Did the subsequent heat treatment warp or distort the lowers? Is this even a concern?
What did you use for primer or base coat (especially critical on forks with alloy/magnesium lowers)?
Did you apply a top clear coat?

After you did your first one, what would you change doing the next one?

I had the lowers for my Z3's bead blasted. Thats what the company I went to recommended. They said if the paint was removed first they'd be able to get a better finish as they wouldn't have to use a coarser bead first to remove the paint (they didn't have chemical stripping facilities). The finish was still very nice, like a satin finish, so was plenty good enough for me!

I am not painting them afterwards as the originals were silver and obviously these are now. I might lacquer them, not decided yet.

I wouldn't let anyone shot-blast them, it'd probably kill the forks stone dead..... :shock:

If you want either a top spec finish or fancy effects such as fades or airbrushing then wet paint is the way to go. If you just want a plain finish then powdercoat is what I'd use, as long as you take them to a place that will mask the relevant bits off properly - remember they will need a complete seal/bushing stripdown before going to paint. At least then you can check all the insides are ok...

 

[S8-Tom]

Re: A question for those that have repainted suspension fork

- remember they will need a complete seal/bushing stripdown before going to paint. At least then you can check all the insides are ok...

Bushing removal is quite important as the media blast or chemical strip won't do them any good. If the finish that is applied is baked on then that will likely cause the bushings problems. I speak from experience having stripped a set of Marzocchi 888's only to find that the badly scored stanchions were as a result of blast media being left in the fork! Thinking I could salvage the lower legs I tried to remove the bushings only to find that the baked on finish had melted the bushings in place! Fork was scrap.

 

[MiniNinjaRob]

That's an expensive lesson to learn! I think I will make sure my fork legs are thoroughly cleaned before reassembly.

 

[S-M]

Done loads of sets.

1. .strip and clean
2. .rub down with wet and dry
3. .clean
4. .spray with hammerite or rustoluem paint.
5. .have a beer.

Will be doing the forks on my motorbike soon. Would not change anything regards the method, been doing the same method on car alloy wheels for years and years with no issues, and its the same method i used on my old 98 GC FSR, it still does not have a stonechip although its now a retired frame.

 

[gdb2b]

Thank you for the replies. I really appreciate it. As is, I've completely disassembled the fork. The lower is just a shell with all of its internals removed.

I'm pretty much set on a chemical strip, as I'm rahter wary of entrusting it to a soda or dry ice blster who has no idea how hard it was to obtain this spare fork.

I've heard the WD40 will take off decals, and I've tried that. No luck. Not in this universe! It can't get under the Mylar to soften/disolve the adhesive of the decal except at the edges. Tried mineral spirits, toluene, acetone, denatured alcohol, xylol, ether, and brake cleaner. Haven't found a solvent yet that is even resonablty close. Soaking in gasoline works but is too dangerous...

Looks like my only option is repeated applications of paint stripper/methylene chloride.

And these are just ordinary RockShox decals. Any tips?

 

[MiniNinjaRob]

Normally heating them up with a hair dryer works.