Ideas on paint removal!

[paulthepilot_5]

Hi everybody,

i am after some ideas for removing old paint from the roof and side panels from a SWB series 3. The roof should not be too hard as it is the original layer of paint and is half coming off anyway. but the other panels have about 3 layers of paint on them. how should i do it? There is a hell of a lot of surface area so i would need bloody heaps of paint stripper, and i don't really like useing the stuff. how well would a heat gun and scraper work?

Cheers
Paul

[Lotz-A-Landies]

Hi everybody,

i am after some ideas for removing old paint from the roof and side panels from a SWB series 3. ...
... Cheers
Paul
Paul

Paint stripper available from any auto-parts store, have some very thick rubber gloves and eye and respiratorator mask.

Do sections of about 1 - 2 metres square. Paint on with a brush - wait about 20 minutes and use a water blaster to remove it. You need to have it dry before the next section.

Make sure you are on a hard surface, because it will kill grass and protect the house etc with plastic sheeting, because the paint stripped from the panels will end up everywhere. A plastic raincoat or plastic poncho (garbage bag even) is good thing particularly if you can throw it in the garbage after use. Have another hose or bucket available if any of the stripper gets on your own skin, it is toxic and will leave a chemical burn.

Even in spite of the preparation/PPE you need it is the easiest, quickest method of stripping. Brings it back to bare aluminium like it was new, although you will also find any putty or repairs that were hidden underneath the paint.

C Ya

Diana

[wozapinin]

g'day paul. you gotta be careful with heat on alluminium, (with a heat gun or mechanical sander) as it does stretch alot easier than steel panels. if the panel stretches it'll lose its original shape and you'll have to shrink it back and only the best beaters can do that without bog. paint strippers great if you've got somewere you can make a mess. with the ally you can even wash it off.

[B92 8NW]

Paul,

I did what Diana says when I redid my IIA roof and hardtop sides. Paint the stripper on and give it a good amount of time to react. I used a borrowed petrol engined pressure washer as I doubted the abilities of my entry level karcher...:D.

Make sure however that the pressure washer sprays a "normal" jet. The "turbo" ones that have a cyclonic action will leave a whole heap of mini spiral marks in the aluminium and look like crap.

[awabbit6]

Like you said - it's going to take alot of paint stripper. It's messy and expensive for the volume you'll require.

I'd consider getting it done professionally. Do a quick search in the yellow pages. I had a look and found A1 Kwik Strippers - their add claims that they will do complete cars. It's not going to be cheap, but either is paint stripper.

The other thing you may want to consider is environmental issues with a car body worth of paint stripper in your yard. It's nasty stuff I'd imagine there would be a fine if you are caught 'dumping' paint and stripper in your yard.

[paulthepilot_5]

looks like i will have to go with using paint stripper. i might try hitting the roof section with just the karcher, as the paint is loose and half of it will probably come off with the HP water. i have a good flat dirt pad that has been cut out for a big shed, it should be the perfect place to make a mess. I can make up for the environmental poisoning by using water out of the water tank :p

Paul

[lokka]

Paint stripper is tha go for this and to speed up the process give it a rough sand with some 120 grit paper to help the stripper get into the paint quicker

[p38arover]

Has anyone tried commercial plastic media blasting (like grit blasting) on aluminium panels? It is excellent on steel and doesn't damage windscreen rubbers or any bog.

At one time, I was going to get my Hillman Hunter done.

See Cleaner Production - Plastic Media Paint Stripping - Carstrip Pty Ltd (http://www.environment.gov.au/settlements/industry/corporate/eecp/case-studies/carstrip.html)


The stripping system is versatile enough to handle fibreglass, aluminium and other exotic materials.

[Lotz-A-Landies]

Has anyone tried commercial plastic media blasting (like grit blasting) on aluminium panels? It is excellent on steel and doesn't damage windscreen rubbers or any bog.

At one time, I was going to get my Hillman Hunter done.

See Cleaner Production - Plastic Media Paint Stripping - Carstrip Pty Ltd (http://www.environment.gov.au/settlements/industry/corporate/eecp/case-studies/carstrip.html)
Ron

The other option is soda blasting - it uses bicarb soda and water and is the method currently being used by Tennex for the re-manufacture of the Land Rover Parentie for the Army. It will remove paint and rust but leave rubber and glass undamaged.

The problem is that most operators doing this method are asking big dollars - something in the order of $3,000 to do a Land Rover 109 wagon. There is a mob at Riverstone who do it.

Diana

[Lotz-A-Landies]

Like you said - it's going to take alot of paint stripper. It's messy and expensive for the volume you'll require. ...

If you buy the paint stripper at SupaC#%%p in a 5 litre drum it's not that expensive. $40.00 comes to mind and I did a 88" hard top roof both sides using only about 1 litre.

You don't get out of any of the blasting people for less than $100 (or $25 per wheel rim.)

Diana

[p38arover]

The problem is that most operators doing this method are asking big dollars - something in the order of $3,000 to do a Land Rover 109 wagon.

Crikey! :eek:

[p38arover]

Here's the mob I was actually thinking of: Austec Dry Stripping - Welcome (http://www.austecdrystripping.com.au/)

See here, too: Austec Dry Stripping - Our Difference (http://www.austecdrystripping.com.au/difference.html)

[abaddonxi]

There's always caustic soda. That's what they use for dipping baths for timber. Cheap as, and neutralises with vinegar. Dunno what it does to aluminium, I'd test it on a beer can first.;)

Cheers
Simon

[p38arover]

:eek:

You didn't do chemistry at school???

Caustic soda and aluminium produce lots of hydrogen - and leave little aluminium behind!

See 4.4.10 Reaction of Aluminum with Water and Sodium Hydroxide (http://www2.uni-siegen.de/~pci/versuche/english/v44-10.html)

[Blknight.aus]

brake fluid, a warm day and a scrubbing brush works wonders...

[numpty]

If you buy the paint stripper at SupaC#%%p in a 5 litre drum it's not that expensive. $40.00 comes to mind and I did a 88" hard top roof both sides using only about 1 litre.

You don't get out of any of the blasting people for less than $100 (or $25 per wheel rim.)

Diana

Our local must be a good bloke then as he blasted 7 rims and prime coated them for $70.

[sclarke]

Guys... Cheap option and you dont do a thing........

BEAD BLASTING

look in the yellow pages for a snad blaster close by and ask them if they do Bead blasting.

i got the Truck cab on the 110 ute i built done... $50

the labour for me to strip the cab and then paint strip it would have been stupid... so get them to bead blast it....

In melb i used a place in Bayswater.....
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/projects-tutorials/34577-grommet-becomes-utility-gone-days-hard-top.html#post496784

Clarkie

[paulthepilot_5]

Guys... Cheap option and you dont do a thing........

BEAD BLASTING

look in the yellow pages for a snad blaster close by and ask them if they do Bead blasting.

i got the Truck cab on the 110 ute i built done... $50

the labour for me to strip the cab and then paint strip it would have been stupid... so get them to bead blast it....

In melb i used a place in Bayswater.....
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/projects-tutorials/34577-grommet-becomes-utility-gone-days-hard-top.html#post496784

Clarkie

That is pretty damn good, i think i might have a look around in the yellow pages :)

Paul

[beforethevision]

Has anyone tried commercial plastic media blasting (like grit blasting) on aluminium panels? It is excellent on steel and doesn't damage windscreen rubbers or any bog.


I have used Silica bead blasting on alloy and it works well, without damaging the surface too much. The grit however is rather expesive compared to sand (but i didnt have to pay for it :P).

cheers!

[Lotz-A-Landies]

Our local must be a good bloke then as he blasted 7 rims and prime coated them for $70.

They must have seen me coming :( the best price I got was $20 for 5" rims and $25 for 6.5" rims and he used large grit with no etch primer or anything. Almost completely removed the date stamp of the 1951 rims. The next 2 places were $25 per rim with primer and using smaller grit which didn't damage the date/manufacturers stamps. (This is important stuff when you do early S1's which have a visible date stamp, that should match your vehicle.)

Unfortunately the cost of travelling to Brisvegas would off-set the savings. It has to be something to do with Sydney property prices for our prices to be so much more!

Maybe you could investigate whether sodablasting is also cheaper up there?

Diana

[abaddonxi]

:eek:

You didn't do chemistry at school???

Caustic soda and aluminium produce lots of hydrogen - and leave little aluminium behind!

See 4.4.10 Reaction of Aluminum with Water and Sodium Hydroxide (http://www2.uni-siegen.de/%7Epci/versuche/english/v44-10.html)

Ah, you'd think I'd know that since I know about aluminium in dishwasher.

Chemistry in school. No way, I did ART. If Rilka had done chemistry I would have too.:D Much too keen on chasing after her to pay attention to school.

Cheers
Simon

[Cameron_Def]

If you are in Sydney, one of my mates owns a sodablasting company .. I am sure he will look after you ..

PM if your interested!

[p38arover]

Ah, you'd think I'd know that since I know about aluminium in dishwasher.

Chemistry in school. No way, I did ART. If Rilka had done chemistry I would have too.:D Much too keen on chasing after her to pay attention to school.

Cheers
Simon

Art?? Not for me! Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics - loved 'em.

Rilka? Well, you caught her - what are you gunna do now? :angel:

[Lucy]

They must have seen me coming :( the best price I got was $20 for 5" rims and $25 for 6.5" rims and he used large grit with no etch primer or anything. Almost completely removed the date stamp of the 1951 rims. The next 2 places were $25 per rim with primer and using smaller grit which didn't damage the date/manufacturers stamps. (This is important stuff when you do early S1's which have a visible date stamp, that should match your vehicle.)

Unfortunately the cost of travelling to Brisvegas would off-set the savings. It has to be something to do with Sydney property prices for our prices to be so much more!

Maybe you could investigate whether sodablasting is also cheaper up there?

Diana

Hi Diana,

You should have got your sandblasting done in Nowra, $5 a rim! I had all the body panels on an ex-mil 109 done for $150, including the firewall. Came up a treat. (this was after I had gone through 4 wire brushes on my grinder at $50 each tring to do the fire wall, didn't get very far at all)

Justin