I'm just about ready to begin working on my body, from what I've read, the best way (other than media blast) to start, is to chemically strip all the old paint off the panels. I see that the best available product that restorers use is simply a comercially available Aircraft stripper. Probably just a high strength formulation caustic. Is anyone here familiar with anything like this? Any advise on using it? Where could it be found in the GTA?
Cheers, Mark.
__________________
65 Laurentian post, 67 Grande Parisienne 4 door HT.
I have used the aircraft stuff on a number of cars. I really like the job it does. I hit the paint with an orbital sander and something like an 80 grit disc ahead of time. I don't spend a lot of time at it, just rough it up a bit. It seems that it makes the stripper much more effective because it allows it to get under the paint that much better.
Make sure you stay 1/2" or an 1" away from your door jambs, trunk jambs etc with the chemical stripper. Otherwise it's in there and hard to get out which will cause grief with the new paint. You can seal the gaps with masking tape before you start.
I do the strips that remain on the doors, trunk or whatever (by the jambs) with an orbital.
I wish I was there. I love stripping paint! It's a very rewarding job. I like the idea of starting fresh when painting.
Rubber gloves and good ventilation are a must. That ammonia kind of overwhelms you otherwise.
-- Edited by Carl Stevenson at 10:22, 2008-06-28
-- Edited by Carl Stevenson at 10:23, 2008-06-28
__________________
1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars (now converted to a "factory" 4 speed)
I'll fly you down next week, my sister in law can get passes on AC!
Interesting advise on not getting it in the jambs, I do plan on stripping those out as well, and use a pressure pot sand blaster to get anything out of the nooks and crannys before sanding, treating and shooting DP90LF primer.
What brand name product do you use?
Mark.
__________________
65 Laurentian post, 67 Grande Parisienne 4 door HT.
I was following a buddies advice on the jambs. He teaches autobody at our high school. I'm sure it's fine to use in there if you are planning to strip them anyway. I think his point was that it's a bear to prep in there for paint.
Blasting them would be a much better idea.
I have used Talstrip but basically anything that the body shop supply places sell. Some guys have told me they use stripper for wood furniture finishes and that it works fine as well.
__________________
1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars (now converted to a "factory" 4 speed)