Any BMX riders here ?

[Twentymac]

I've just got a few questions about a new project i wanna do on a bike.

 

[Andelusion]

Try the sports forum, in the big bike thread.

 

[JohnRoss]

am a bmx bandit , not too good at the flatland although can doo wheelies and framestands thats about it really lol , got a khe premium lagger bike old school love it proper customised with top spec parts, will try and answer any questions youve got

 

["andy"]

there will no doubt be lots of people who can probably help you. i havent rode in a while mind

 

[Twentymac]

Ah ok then chaps.

My mates offered to give me his old BMX (Diamondback) and i have gladly accepted.

I want to completely strip it and put better parts on etc etc, however the frame is quite rusty (only surface rust) but it looks like it’s going to be hard getting it all out from the corners and those hard to get places. How would you recommend me doing this?

Also the frame is silver almost like chrome. I eventually i want to paint the bike a matt black. Is it ok to just sand it all off and prime ready for paint?

 

[JohnRoss]

steel wool is what you need for the surface rust , shouldent be a problem as long as you get the right type of paint

 

[Twentymac]

Ah cracking mate, nice one.

 

["andy"]

if its chrome then the only way you will get it off for primering/painting is sanding or sand blasting.

if its paint then paint stripper will make things quicker. can sand the rust off too

what are you planing on doing with the bike after its in working/better orders ? bear in mind that a lot of the newer and higher end bmx parts may not fit depending on the bikes age. a few things have changed a lot over the recent years

 

[Twentymac]

Well i just want to get its built back up with some good brake components and good street tyres.

I want to do the whole frame in a matt black then i've got some ideas for some designing with vinyls to do over

 

[diverse180]

Twentymac, could you post a pic of the bike as it is now perhaps?

Keep us posted on the build ok as it would be cool to see the end result!

Here's mine btw, just need to change the rims and I'm set for summer

...still need to finish my girlfriends bike though!

 

[Twentymac]

ok boyos here are some snaps, i went round and picked it up from him just.

Notice the small patches of surface rust in all the hard to get places.

Ok im gonna strip it all down some this week and start sanding away.

Once stripped how shall i primer/prep for White ?

 

["andy"]

yea its chrome. your gunna have to sand it like mad or get it shot/sand blasted off if you want new paint to stick to it

 

[Twentymac]

Oh poo !!!

 

["andy"]

theres probably some sort of etching primer that claims it sticks on chrome. i wouldnt personally use one but it might do the job

 

[Twentymac]

oh like this ?

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/..._productId_170745_langId_-1_categoryId_165625

 

[Von Smallhausen]

BMX .... takes me back.

I had a Kuwhara in the 80s. Are they still going ?

 

[Twentymac]

just had a good 20-30 min session heating up the stickers and scraping them off then sanding down the top frame bar.

Is this the kind of sand down depth i've gotta get all around do you guys think ?

 

[uk_unbeliever]

It'll be a real job to get rid of the rust around all the welds. You're obviously set on trying it so try some of the rust removal paste stuff that halfords sell- No idea how it affects chrome though

 

[Twentymac]

Spend a few hours today just pure sanding it today and using a sander

Jobs a good'un so far !

 

[Jonny ///M]

Good project! I had an old apollo with that style of seatstay years ago!

I ain't into bmx at all(pretty crap at anything requiring skill) but the raleigh rep brought a 650 quid diamondback bmx into the shop and apparently was made by KHE and it was a work of art!