So, my 10 year old Chameleon is starting to look a bit tired, the powdercoat is really scratched and dull, so I was wondering whether or not to strip it back to a raw finish (Quick Photoshop mockup below).

So what does the STW hive think, to strip or not to strip?

(Feel free to include pic’s of your raw bikes for inspiration)

As it is now

Stripped

Stripped with bars from my other bike

Your bars are out of alignment….

As for the strip, do it! Raw is real! 😀

I keep thinking about rawing my anodized Heckler. I looked into doing it with Ovenpride but so far havent been brave enough to risk maiming the frame.

Valves and logos!

I like the blue.

Strip orange bars.

Your bars are out of alignment….

I’d be more worried about the lack of brake hoses 😀

Valves and logos!

Not my valves or logos 😉

2 for, 1 against so far, any more votes?

Blue looks better…

+1 for the blue.

Maybe try a really mild cutting compound used for car paint (no T-cut) and see if makes it look better. But mind the stickers.

If you go to all the trouble of repainting it you will only scratch it first time out. Let it wear it’s scars with pride.

Blue here too (I presume that a polished finish is out of the question?).

And something is really wrong with those bars.

Not too keen on the polished look, prefer matt raw. Might try the cutting compound before I take the plunge though.

Can you get it anodized?

Loving the way a ‘quick polish’ also renders the bike single speed….. 😉

Oh, if I have to vote – raw.

If ever a Scandal finds its way into my garage, I’d love to strip it and leave it raw.

My vote: strip +1

Next vote gets it 🙂

Will it not end up oxidising and going ugly if left raw? I’d powdercoat it meself.

It oxidises a little, but you can hardly notice it. Anodisation is an oxidised layer.

Strip it and have it anodised? That’s what I did with an oldish Marin and I’m very happy with it. I stripped it myself, with Nitromors, which took ages and ages. I would not recommend stripping it yourself.

Stripped:

IMAG0045 by will jenkins, on Flickr

Anodised:

IMAG0046 by will jenkins, on Flickr

Built up:

IMAG0164-1 by will jenkins, on Flickr

More info in this thread.

That’s really nice, do you mind me asking how much it was?

After I stripped the paint it was bead blasted and then anodised for £80.
Having a frame stripped professionally shouldn’t cost much, maybe £20 or so.

The bead blast and anodising was done by a nice chap called Steve Barry, who’s in Sandhurst/Bracknell. I can give you his current email if you like? He doesn’t do any paint stripping so you’d have to sort that out separately.