Hot Rods What should i be using in this to strip of auto paint?

Got this from Harbor freight because I cant afford anything big. I wanted to use it on the hood and truck of the 56 Chrysler because the paint is so sun burnt and I cant really make a dent in the old paint with the D.A. .I don't want to chemically strip it because its too messy. What such I be using in this? It says its a sand blaster but then on the box it says not to use sand. I want something that wont scratch the chrome or windows either. Thanks. Bruce.

 

Aircraft stripper and a razor blade. It's not messy if you're careful, it goes on like a gel. Wear gloves and a mask.

I wouldn't use any sort of blaster on a hood unless you really know what you're doing, you can warp the metal in about 2 seconds.

 

Those are for doing very small areas, you will be wanting to toss it 10 mins into the job. I used one of those crud buster wheels recently and man it strips paint fast. They are about $12 a wheel and it would probably use two for what you are looking to do.

 

I use 3m Purple stripit discs. on a hand held grinder. Works well for me.

 

Stripping paint, a hood no less with that thing is going to be a horrendously painstaking mind numbing compressor killing mess for miles job.


Do you have a 7" sander/polisher low rpm unit? A 8" pad with some 40 grit, & 80 grit - and then 80 on your DA sander to finish. That will take less that an hour to strip ready to epoxy prime.


The trick is to use lowest rpm, big arm movement an shoot the paint off in curly Q pieces. Complete single p*** over the entire hood at time and it won't get hot. Try to keep 1/2 of the pad flat on the panel, in other words don't run the edge of the pad. Eventually it gets bare but Don't try for bare metal, just have it in your mind to take 1/2 the paint thickness with each p*** and there will be no damage.

Also if you do just 1 p*** then chemical it's amazing.

 

i have one of those harbor freight blasters, as said it works great for small areas and parts. i used "black diamond" in it for some small stuff on my `30 coupe project. what a mess i had afterwords

 

51box what do they look like ? Got a picture of one? Thanks Bruce.

 

Charleyw.Thanks for the information.Bruce.

 

I have used these to strip bodies and other sheet metal.
The trick is to NOT use any pressure, let the wheel do the work.

 

31Vicky.I do have a grinder /polisher like that. I just thought 80 grit would leave too many deep scratches to cover up with primer even after using 220 grit and then 360 grit to finish the job, then prime it.I have painted Many, many cars over the years but the paint on this one is the toughest I have ever had to work on. Looks like it had been clear coated at 1 time .Thanks for the information. Bruce.

 

36-3window.Black diamond. Thanks.I may have to use that blaster around the curved areas next to the trunk where I cant get the grinder in at. Bruce.

 

Bruce those stripper discs work great and don't scratch the metal like 80 grit. I stripped my 60 chevy 2 door sedan completely top and bottom with them and recommend it. Gary

 

I've not read them all obviously, but Every tech I have read for DTM epoxy primers suggests an 80 grit finish on bare metal, no more than 120. not 360. 320-400 Grit finish on final primer blocking then sealer/paint.

Everyone has a different way, for sure.
I've seen with my own eyes guys take great care stripping paint to avoid any abrasions in metal. Then put a grinder it to get a base for filler to stick in their low spots, hit the filler with 36 and the surrounding metal with 36. Then have 5 Hamburger sized spots of bare metal.

 

Bruce ,We use the ,"AFRO"DISCS in the shop.They work GREAT!NOT POLITICALLY CORRECT BUT THE DISC DOES LOOK LIKE AN AFRO !

 

Yeah Black diamond works good in the gravity feed blasters. Small areas though. Usually blast the real bad areas that are pitted. I use the strip disc for the larger areas


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If you use stripper, tape up the seams or just keep it away from the edges, work the large flats with it.

I've got one of the little hand held blasters, handy for brackets etc, not much more.

 

X2 for the disc stripper. Does a really thorough job, gets any rust or old Bondo and if you let the disc do the work, doesn't warp the metal which is important on a long flat expanse like a hood or roof. And it doesn't remove any metal like sanding discs!

 

Wagner Electric paint stripper. Takes paint off in a hurry!



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Folding handle and wrist strap for balanced feel and control. Lots of torque if you are leaning into it.


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Bruce, those stripper discs work well. They are a little pricy but make up for it by saving you time.
Jim

 

Take the hood and trunk off the car and strip them. Check with any local blasters. There is a plastic blasting media.

 

As engine man and others have suggested remove the parts and do them off the car. Mark the hinges so everything goes back together in the same place so there are no alignment issues at re***embly.
I've done a few cars and had some sandblasted completely because they were stripped down shells. On other occasions I've used good quality stripper with a broad paint s****er being careful to use enough force to remove paint and not dig the corners of the s****er into the metal. Wear gloves and do it in a well ventilated area being careful not to breath too many fumes or splash it in your eyes. Use a plastic bucket for the residue. Process is not necessarily messy if you go slow and clean up on the way. You may need to reapply for those heavy areas. When stripped down then rub over with a disc before etch priming being careful not to introduce too much heat into panel that may damage it. Don't hold it on an area or pressing line but try to do large areas carefully and evenly.
Those blasters are good for small areas when doing rust etc around doors and windshields.

 

Hi ..... This is messy but I always use industrial quality paint stripper and then the stripper disk the clean the surface properly...use a good quality rust inhibitor .........
Personally I dont sand blast any metal surface...it case hardens the surface and if you have to do any speed filing it will ruin the file very quickly...if you must use a blaster use a plastic or vegetable base medium

 

Bruce did you try just a razor blade in a holder? sometimes old hard paint comes right off with a little elbow grease and $.50 worth of blades.

 

After stripping four layers of paint from the barn find falcon, I've found that chemical stripper and a razor blade followed up with 60 grit on a DA was the best method for me.

 

those are for little bits and pieces. you would spend more time refilling the pot then you would blasting.

 

Jim, I am pretty sure that's the way I am going to go. Thanks Bruce.

 

Engine.That's the plan.The hood and trunk being the worst are coming off.ThanksBruce.

 

Norton 4 inch rapid strip discs work very well

 

mgtstumpy.I have used air craft stripper before.{see the picture}I am going to use it on the hood and trunk once they are removed. I will use the blaster in the curves I cant get with the stripping disks Thanks Bruce.