Hot Rods Is this tool good at removing paint or would I be better with a DA sander?

https://www.harborfreight.com/9-amp-variable-speed-surface-conditioning-tool-70979.html

 

never used one but they look like they do a good job.. way faster than a DA. there are videos on Youtube

 

I have the (slightly?) older model, and it works great for removing paint and surface rust, in my experience. Buy some extra abrasive rolls, especially the 40 grit.

Make sure your arms and shoulders are in good shape, too, as the tool is heavy and you will get a good upper body workout using it.

Here's a good video discussing the tool (actually the Eastwood version, but essentially the same tool) and some caveats for using it:

 

Is that a Horrible Freight item?

 

Have had mine for over 2 1/2 years with zero issues and half the price of a similar Eastwood product. Win, win in my book.

 

The HF one has survived students at school for 2 years. Not bad
Removing paint is relative to what it is.
Some sand easily. Some don’t
They all build up heat. Be careful

 

Regardless if you use this tool or a DA....Heat is NOT your friend! So many folks who are not bodymen/painters will warp a perfectly straight hood when stripping paint with a tool by heating up the panel too much.

I love to DA strip the cars I paint, but was thinking about buying one of those to give it a try. List price on the Bauer (also from HF) is 20 bucks less & I have had good luck with both Hercules & Bauer.

EDIT...@anthony myrick & I were typing at the same time Heat Bad!

God Bless
Bill
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...ar-transport-hauling-open-or-enclosed.614419/

 

Friend picked up one from a HF close out for $50. I got mine on sale for around $110.
The black HF wheels are actually good. The others are more like surface prep. Makes bare metal look cool

 

Just go in knowing that stripping paint is messy, hard work and no single tool gets it all.
It is grunt work, and like almost everything, there isn't a good, fast, cheap solution.

 

Yep. It’s another tool in the arsenal

I’ve had 80 strip better than 40. Had some paint that just smeared no mater what grit was used
Had paint melt away with stripper, and some paint that stripper hardly touched.

 

YES...........

From an...ACTUAL USER !

It's a copy of the Eastwood tool, just a few cents (NOT penny's !) cheaper.
I've got the Eastwood version. With the drum shown on the tool above, does work well to remove paint.
The sanding drums also work well.

Note the drums aren't exactly cheap, but they work, save much DA, and hand sanding time.

Mike

 

Not what you asked, but I have had really good results with these: Pic from Amazon, available lots of places. Similar material to the one you asked about. Fits 4/4.5" grinders. Works in spots the other type won't reach and tool is much lighter.

I have used a heat gun and scraper first on places with many coats of paint and or bondo. No sandpaper or anything else really works on layer after layer. Heat Makes it much easier. Just be careful not to overheat, as soon as the paint/filler softens, scrape it off. Razor blade holder worked well for me

 

How would this be around a panel with some body line edges?

 

I thought one wanted to try and keep the panel straight. Using these disk do they also remove metal?

 

Straight is one thing, removing metal is another. Watch some demos of the various tools used.
This is from Eastwood, which sells the various products. Part 1 of 2. They have a Part 2 also. This compares the various ways to strip.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=42uFt1GZVqM

 

There’s a difference between sanding and grinding. Once you’ve got the paint off, you need to use a light hand. It comes with experience.

 

My buddy has the HF one, talked me in to getting one. Popped up on sale at Eastwood for 99$ with a free wall holder and free shipping, I said to myself “why not”? Only used it once, much faster than a DA sander for sure.

 

They work fantastic, and wont remove metal. They will remove leaded joints and body filler though. I've used the paint stripper discs on the last three cars I stripped to bare metal, and they're not only fast, but will save a lot of money over buying another tool as posted originally. It takes maybe 2-3 discs to easily strip a whole car in short time.

 

Well you know if HF sells it has to be good.

 

I never used one of these but I've heard really good things. Will definitely try one next time I have to strip a whole car.

 

It's a fine tool if you watch out for the heat. Use the proper wheel for the job and you'll be better of than with a DA. It's much quicker with more bite than a DA.
Work on a practice piece to get the feel of it if you've never used one.

 

FYI Eastwood and Harbor Freight sell many of the same exact items

 

Works pretty good. My dad is in the process as we speak of using one he just bought to strip old enamel paint from an even older flag pole. He commented that the wheels seem to stop cutting as well after a while- they visibly look fine but it’s as if they get “dull” so to speak.

Neither of us have tried it on something like a body panel, however.

 

Well, the logical opposite conclusion to that sarcasim might be "Harbor Freight sells nothing that is good."
And I have not found that to be true at all.

 

It is one of many different was to strip paint. Depends on what works. I have found that a box of razor blades to be the cheapest and fastest on some cars. Sometimes sandpaper works and you need to try different grits. Sometimes chemicals work best.

 

Thank You Sir!

FACT is HF stuff has gotten much better over the last few years. I have lots of high end tools, but I know that I can save some money with stuff from HF that is not as critical instead of having my nose so far in the air that I drown when it rains just to say I have (insert overpriced tool names here) in my shop.

God Bless
Bill
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...ar-transport-hauling-open-or-enclosed.614419/

 

If they are both made in China, it is reasonable to assume they are same dang thing, just molded in different colours. Whichever company fronted the development cost basically screwed themselves by building in a country with no IP morals...
That said, I would start stripping paint chemically if you have a large area to do. Less issues with heat generation.

 

I have the HF model and it is a beast! It will eat bondo off quickly! As others said, just don't build up too much heat in the panel. Compared to a DA, this thing is 10X faster. Buy extra wheels.

 

How do you know if too much heat is built up?

 

Touch it. If it's too hot for you, it's getting too hot.