Had some control arms powdercoated for my 50 Merc. The guy sprayed the threads (thank you). I have heard "Klean Strip Aircraft Paint Stripper." Is this the best stuff to use? Can you mask off the area you don't want to strip or will eat eat through the tape? Thanks.
Tap and die... If not, and you have to use aircraft stripper, you can mask the rest of it off, I would use heavy plastic first, then cover with heavy tape.
Yeah was considering a tap but don't have any big enough. Was trying to avoid buying some. Thanks for the info.
Get the Aerosol paint stripper at Home Depot. For some reason aerosol strippers take off powder coat. I think its the Kleen Strip brand.
tap em. usually you have to burn the powdercoat off, but in that situation maybe a wire wheel on a die grinder or cut off too could get in there easier.
you can buy single taps from ace (around here anyway)..for probly around the same you would spend on the stripper..and its less messy..
My buddy is a powder coater(but he doesn't powder coat threads) uses air craft stripper on jobs where he has to take previous powder coating off. He also sandblasts it, but that is not likely suitable for threads.
They sell a TAP for Chrysler ball joints part no 001111622. It is a big tap, they powdercoat their control arms and sometimes it gets into the threads. They also sell tapered reamers, they are around $112.
I think its Kleen-strip that sells MEKP (Methyl-Ethyl-Ketone-Peroxide) I once had a powdercoat shop tell me that it would remove powdercoat, but I think it required a lot of elbow-grease. Good Luck!
Forget re-tapping the threads. The big ends on the Merc control arms are self-tapping. What I mean is that they come from the factory with no threads and when you screw in the control-arm bushings the bushings themselves cut the threads. Just screw in the bushings and you're good to go. The small ends have squared off threads, which you'll probably never find a tap for. I'd try to screw in the trunnions (the shafts) and see if they go in and cut their way through the powdercoat. If not, I'd get a rat-tail file and cut down the powdercoat and try threading them again. Also, if the above doesn't work, I'd find a wire wheel to fit the hole and brush it out.
Since those threads sometimes get sloppy with age, the powdercoat in the threads might actually be a good thing... Otherwise, yeah, use a little bit of stripper and a Dremel with one of the flat wire brushes. Mask the part and yourself as it'll throw the stripper all over the place
Brake fluid's been eating the powder coat on my tool box. Maybe tape around the area and brush some on
Got a good friend who does powdercoating for a living. He has all sizes of tapered silicone plugs that he puts in every threaded and non threaded hole.These plugs are used solely to keep powder from getting into holes. He also uses hi-temp tape to tape up a male thread and are meant to withstand the heat. So when you get your parts back, there is no powder where it shouldn't be.
Sunsetdart- I asked the guy to do that and he said no problem. Guess I owe him a big thank you for creating tons of work for me. He did my ch***is also with no provisions for the threads on it eaither.
I found out the hard way, that brake-kleen and a little heat (like intake manifold heat) will soften/dissolve powder coat. Gene
Take them down to a local machine shop and see if the guy would chase the threads for a six pack! I would! Too bad your not closer, I'm thirsty.
Took some time but I masked off around the area I didn't want screwed up and lightly sprayed some aircraft remover in it. Let it sit for about a minute then used an angled pick to s****e it out. Threaded it up as much as I could then repeated until it would thread easily. Took forever but finally got Got to an end.
To quickly and cleanly strip powder coat off larger items like wheels, hit them with a rosebud and then it will just about fall off.
If you want to strip the whole thing put it in an oven on self clean. The high heat breaks the bond between the powder coat and the metal.
Been using a rose bud and s****er. Works really pretty well. Will have to go back and get the really thin stuff with a wire wheel or maybe Tolulene?
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