Shoptalkforums.com

Are there any brands to stick with or is it all the same stuff. I know Home Depot has some. Is there anything better than that stuff.

As far as safety, cover up all skin areas, use a paint mask to breath. Is there anything else to watch out for?

Thanks

Jason

Howdy.

If you read the labels... chemicals are made to commercial specs....

I'm in the chemical industry --- most "brands" are labels...

It's not just a paint mask --- you need a good one with replaceable cartridges... plan on spending $50 min on the mask.

T.

I did my cars with KleenStrip Paint and Epoxy remover. It?s available at home depot and it worked the best for me. I intentionally tried out several different products including the so called safe strippers made from citrus extracts. From what I can tell the Aircraft Stripper and the product I used is the name on the can and the reduced cost. The Aircraft stripper looked the same, smelled the same and took paint off the same.

As for anything to watch for: Keep this stuff of plastic or it will be mush. You should also consider using a pressure washer for removing the sludge. If you can control the spray it?s by far the easiest way to remove large sections of paint.

rubber gloves are a must, if this stuff gets on your skin it burns like holy hell. I always lay a layer of newspaper around the car so it doesn't get on the floor when you scrape it off, but i'm a stickler for details. Spread it in one way with a brush, let it sit, then scrape off with a razor blade. The wider the better.Let sit overnight and then sand it with a DA and 80 grit. I dont use water because i'm scared to death of rust.

Do you think that the DA sander will get rid of all the chemical so your paint will stick. I'm right at this point myself, body down to bare metal all sand down, but not washed. I think you "need" to wash it down??? let me know what you think..JR

Buy your self some wax and grease remover. I use PPG Paint with a product called DX440. It will remove with chemicals, or debree.

As i can tell you from previous experience 9 years ago using aircraft stripper through an aeresol can,wear a shirt... I thought my nipples were gonna burn off.....

If you're doing the inside of your car, work from the bottom up. I looked like a jacked up imitation of Hulk Hogan ripping my shirt off in the garage when some sludge dripped on my back.

make sure you use eye protection... those $2 rubbery clear ones should do the trick... get that stuff in your eyes and you will probably want to claw them out it hurts so bad... then you'll be blind and never enjoy seeing any vw restored.

Also it says use in a well ventillated area... I figured the outside on driveway would be well ventillated. whoosh - after about being around that stuff i got lightheaded.

You'll will notice that the cheaper paint jobs will bubble and crackle but the original paint is a little more stubborn which will require a second or third application to get it off.

what ever you do just be careful as it DOES burn like hell when it get on your skin.

Dont use nice brushes either. It has eaten 2-3 brushes to the point where the bristles just fall off in the can of stripper. Oh and before you do any gringing with the DA of wire wheel clean the stuff off. SOmething about a spinning wheel throwing stripper all over isnt very good on the skin.

I have painted cars for 30yrs.Here are some tips that might be helpful.First don't get in a hurry relax.Preparation is 90% of the job.If you are doing the car still assembled remove weatherstrips,trim,etc.Start with the roof,mask off the perimeter in the width of the tape.Put about 3 layers down,then run 36"paper around like a curtain.This will protect the glass and run to the floor if it gets away from you.Do a small section at a time.Pour some stripper in the middle of the area where your starting and spread evenly with a rag.When it's ready to remove take a bondo spreader and move it to a new section and spread it out again.The stripper is still very much alive and will keep working,and it saves on material costs.It also becomes thicker and easy to to handle.I use a square gallon can with the top cut out.Carefully scoop up the stripper and put in the can using the edge to clean your spreader.When the roof is stripped wipe it down with a cheap lacquer thinner.It neutralizes the stripper and evaporates quickly.Pull off the paper and tape and wipe those areas also.The rest of the body is a little easier,tape off all the gaps between the panels.Run paper along all the bottom edges so the stripper runs to the floor.Tape off any area you want to keep the stripper out of or off of.When your done the car will have a strip of paint around each panel which you can sand off while doing the rest of the body.I prefer using 80 grit on a D A sander which works fast and gives the new etching primer something to adhere to.Check for dents before stripping your car and mark them using a small grinder.Even after sanding the car your still able to see the grinder marks.Use a stud gun to pull the dents out as far as possible.Use the etching primer first,this protects the metal and the body filler adheres well to the primer.Less body filler you use the better.

Use those cheap chinese bristle brushes. They are the ones with the plain wooden handles and black bristles. They are only a buck or two a piece. The stripper won't affect the bristles on these and you can throw them away when you are done.

another thing not mentioned is that if the day is the slightest bit cool or you are in a drafty place you should cover the area with plastic. This will help do 2 things. It will keep what heat there is in and also keep the chemicals together longer. The chemical reats with the paint and at the same time air. The longer you can keep the air from it the better this will work. Black plastic (garbagebags) work good since they soak up heat helping the chemical reaction happen faster and easier and you can leave it in the sun and it will not dry as fast

aircraft paint stripper is the best to use on automotive work...... it's fast and easy to use.... don't be afraid to use it on your car.....