I gave my kid a Nimble Crosswind wheel that is fully painted. The paint is pretty thick. He wants to remove the paint to reveal the wheels natural carbon fiber beauty.
Can anyone recommend a solvent/paint stripper that is safe to use?
I cannot say for a fact, but I’m going to suggest this is not a good idea. The solvent might begin to dissolve the resin or epoxy-type (what’s the technical name for it?) matter that bonds the carbon fibers together. If this were the case it might compromise the integrity of the wheel. It’s a long shot, but it may not be worth risking. I wonder if there is some less invasive method fro stripping off the finish, like some type of light surface abrasive process that would just blast the paint away but leave the underlying structure intact?
removing paint from CF requires sandpaper, not solvent. It is an effing tedious job, which is why custom paint jobs cost so much.
Here are some examples of people who have done this and some tips on how to do it:
http://weightweenies.starbike.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=13178&highlight=giant+tcr
http://weightweenies.starbike.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=53102&highlight=removing+paint+carbon
Try calling Dave at Nimble.
Nimble
13017-D Fitzhugh Rd.
Austin, TX 78736-6536
tel: 800-531-6331
tel: 512-502-1088
fax: 512-502-0490
e-mail: product@nimble.net
It can be done apparently. A friend had carbon stays stripped (accidentally, he thought it was all aluminium ) by a painter. The painter operates next to cookson boats, a company that constructs carbon yachts for around the world and americas cup syndicates. The painter took the frame over and the resident squint declared that it should be fine. The bikes owner is a nutter fixed gear rider and gives his bike xxx rated abuse, and it hasn’t failed (yet!). I dont know how it looked nude though. Guess this doesnt help with a product though, does it!
If acetone will remove the paint that will not hurt the CF.