What grit of sanding disk do I use to strip the paint on my car?

Need a little advise from the body shop guys on here. I used aircraft stripper on part of my 55 Plymouth last fall, then had to set it outside for the winter, cause my wife got a new car and she needed the garage for the winter. I'm finally getting back in the mood to start stripping the car, (and surface rust that formed over the winter), but this time I want to do it quicker. What grit paper should I use on my DA sander, to strip the body quick, but not cut so deep into the metal, that It will take 4 coats of primer builder to hide it. I want to get this thing to primer and surfacer before I have to let it sit out again in the Ky. winter. Thanks for any advise you guys can give me.

 

I like 80 grit

 

80 grit also here.

 

I think 80 grit is too aggressive just for removing paint,,your gonna get into the metal,,40 grit is what
i have used in the past. HRP

 

I'm not too much on bodywork, but isn't 40 grit going to be more agressive than 80? I thought the larger the number the finer the grit. Just like 1200 is really fine, compared to 220.

 

Those rubberized disc kick ass, dont gum up from the old paint, and dont gouge the metal.

Several companies make them, and you can get them for your drill or grinder.

The box stores carry them as well as sears and body shop supply.

Best bang for the buck.

 

40 is much courser than 80, and I would not use it to strip paint. 80 is what I have used in the past. Sometimes 120.

 

Use some of these, won't cut into the metal at all.

http://www.harborfreight.com/4-1-2-half-inch-nylon-abrasive-wheel-94017.html

 

Huh

 

Yep, 40 is WAY rough. HRP must have typed in some wrong numbers.

I would start with 80 and see how that goes. You will want to use finer (higher numbered) later on, but 80 should be good initially.

Don

 

Yes. 40 grit is twice as agressive as 80. I used 80 on mine last spring when I painted it. DA with 80, prime with high build primer and blocked it with 320. Reprimed and blocked with 400 wet. Two coats of color and 3 clear.

 

Hotrodprimer's got it backasswards.

 

Or does he have it bassackwards ???

Don

 

I use 80 grit and then use PPG DP primer surfacer. It is made for bare metal and builds good for blocking.

 

MUCH better than sanding IMO

 

I use stripping discs, on a milwaukee grinder or my makita 4" one. Gary

 

he meant 120 he is just thinking backwards.

80-150 will work, play with it a bit and see which you like best. Lynn used to use 80 grit for stripping paint when we had the shop but I used 100 with better luck, he was better at finessing the DA and I had a tendency to goug them with 80 grit.

 

If you want to go quickly, 80 grit will not strip a complete finish quickly.
I have a system that works for me and I can strip 90% of any car in a day or less.
The knooks and crannies take the rest of the next day.

36 grit 8" stickit disk on a soft pad with a variable speed sander polisher. Extra light pressure,
slow rpm, travel speed medium quick.

For the first pass the goal is to remove 1/2 the paint/finish thickness of the entire panel. Athough you will see some metal you are not trying for it. The paint will come off in large stringy particles that don't blow around but fall.

Second pass use 80 grit 8" on the same pad. Rpm slow, travel speed medium quick .
This is your second pass and the goal is to remove about 1/2 of the remaining thickness that left after the first pass. You will have more bare metal showing now and some thin primer but all of the paint should be gone.

The metal showing is most likely high spots at this point.

Finish off with the DA and 80 grit

 

^ like 31 vicky said, i also used a variable speed polisher/sander from harbor freight with the velcro pads, then went with flap discs on the hard to get stuff.

 

I use a 4" angle grinder with 100 grit paper and use very light pressure to take off most of the paint, then I switch to one of them 3m paint stripping discs on a high speed drill. Works very well and dosent hurt the metal. My 55 had 4 layers of paint on it so I had quite a bit to take off...

 

If they have those in 4-1/2" with a 7/8 arbor I would buy some....
do they?

 

3M SANDBLASTER DISCS ,,those are slick,,there are a few name brands around,,check ebay you can frequently get some deals on them,,,I got 6 for $12.00. Just don't lean on 'em and they last quite well.

 

Look at 3M Roloc Clean and Strip discs. They make quick work of paint,, dont mess with the metal. 8" 80 grit with a grinder and soft pad work nice too. Please wear eye protection!!!

 

totally agree with the 3M strip disks. they work extre,ely well

 

This has been very helpful. Thanks for your input guys.

 

Best thing I ever spent money on in HF....took 6 layers of paint and primer off easy as can be, five of them should about do the whole car.

 

I took seven layers of paint off this with 3M Kleen Strip purple discs and a Makita GV-5010 sander - amazing and it conditioned the metal too....

 

X2
did a 54 chevy 3100 in no time flat using these


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I've use used & old brake fluid in a bowl & wiped it all over & left it overnight. Works pretty good & was free, it may take a couple passes, then pressure washed it.

 

I plead momentary laps of sanity,old age and lack of proof reading before I posted,,80 grit is fine,,I used 120 grit when I was striping the wagon. HRP