crf311

I'm back on working on my 72 rebuild. Frame is done, engine is at the machine shop.
I already have the body stripped down to the glass. It had 2-3 coats of paint with the middle layer blistering. I'm looking to strip the paint off the side eggcrates. What is the easy way? The chrome on them are still good, just need to get the paint off. Sanding through 3 layers looks to be too much of a pain in the azz: ack:. Don't really light the idea of paint stripper. I was thinking about beadblasting.

So what's the way for those who have done it?

Thanks

keithinspace

What is the problem with stripper? I used a spray-on stripper for my interior parts. Layers of black paint came off with some paper towels. Cleaned it up with some acetone. Done deal. Clean as a whistle.

Beadblasting will 'soften' the corners of the part. It will never be the same.

If you are hellbent on blasting, I'd only use walnut shells. That's the only thing that wouldn't erode or deform the surface of the part.

But honestly...I'd just strip it. It is easiest and it does the job the best.

crf311

I was worried about not getting all the paint stripping off and having it absorbed into the metal causing paint problems down the road. Thanks

Alan 71

Hi crf,
I really don't think you want to use anything abrasive on the grills.
The entire grill is chrome plated even though just the raised egg crate edges are exposed.
If the surface that's painted is degraded in ANY way it becomes obvious in the finished paint.
I'd use a liquid or gel paint remover and a firm brush like a tooth brush to work the paint off.
You then have to be meticulous about removing all traces of the remover which is time consuming, but certainly doable.
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan

keithinspace

I agree with Mr. Alan71 as well as your concern about getting it all off. That is what the Acetone is for. You may even paint it and find out you didn't get all the stripper off from the farthest depths of the cracks...acetone in a disposable spray bottle allows you to really shoot it in there and get all the bits out.

As far as it being "absorbed" into the metal, I don't believe that is a valid concern. The damage caused by any type of abrasive paint removal would be far greater than any extremely small risk that stripper would get held up in a casting crack or some other detail of the part.

Mick71

I used stripper on mine, no problems with paint adhering to it. Masking them off for paint was the pita.

crf311

Thanks guys.
Robert

zwede

They're chromed all over (not just the ribs). Nothing will be absorbed. Just be sure to clean it well. Paint stripper is neutralized by water, so a good wash is the first step. Then you can use lacquer thinner to get it absolutely clean.

DUB

Not that it matters.

I have chemically stripped numerous egg-crates and have had NO problems. The chemical will not absorb into chrome. I neutralize them with lacquer thinner. I also apply a tape on the chrome edge that is not to be painted and I put them in my bast cabinet and blast them with my aluminum oxide...and I have NEVER had any problems. I am NOT basting off the chrome either...juts getting it dull and holding my blasting gun at a distance to do so. NO WARPING or any issues. Then I apply them with a special primer that I still have that I can not get any longer that is made to stick to stainless steel and chrome. NO paint delaminations or anything.

DUB

68/70Vette

A final small note. The egg crates are not pot metal. They are an aluminum alloy. Rechroming them requires a shop that can chrome plate aluminum.

Sunstroked

Pray you dont run out of that primer DUB
As stuck as that original black primer was to get off even with stripper, is blasting even necessary? Im thinking of a primer coat of SPI epoxy primer, then final coat.

Solid LT1

Use chemical stripper.....remove all the paint to bare chrome, then while your wife is out of town on a business trip.....put them into the dishwasher to make sure they are neutralized....my method....hope she doesn't read this!

hammadown

I stripped mine with air craft stripper...... it was messy







Hammadown

jnb5101

Do as Hamadown, but get the jumbo size turkey pans at the food store. They fit the egg crates perfectly for soaking. Cover with aluminium foil to prevent evaporation of the solvents.

garyguinn

question:

do the 70-72 egg crates all come with painted portions? or were some
all chrome?

I'm contemplating going all chrome for a 72 I'm working on

thanks
Gary

DUB

YEAH...I really am careful on how much I mix so I do not waste a drop.

I blast the stainless trim and the egg crates so give my primer something good to bite to. I can not do it twice...and have tested this procedure and I KNOW it sticks really good.

If you are going to prime it with SPI or any pother brand like PPG epoxy...I would have them blasted. Just my view on that.

They were all painted...expect for that this raised strip where the chrome is exposed.

I have seen the egg crates all chrome. I myself ..do not like it. They look out of place and takes away form the side view of the car. I have seen them painted black also on a car that is not black...and I am mixed on how that looks. For what that is worth.

AS FOR getting the chemical stripper off. I use automotive grade lacquer thinner. Using a piece of rough steel wool or red scotch-brite pad with the thinner will also aid in getting some of the paint and primer that is still stuck on there off easier. Back in the past...when I did use water...it turned the stripper into something that looked like stringy snot. Then I eventually realized that I needed to use lacquer thinner to get the stripper out on 'nooks and crannies' fast......and lacquer thinner thins it out and liquefies it much better. NEVER had any problem with the Aircraft stripper coming back on any part it was used on and causing a paint defect.....EVER! Just my take on this.

jnb51501 is TOTALLY CORRECT on this. When stripping METAL PARTS...bagging them up with plastic or aluminum foil aids in the stripper doing a better job...which also depends on how much stripper you applied, type of paint you are stripping, number of coats that are on the part being stripped, air temperature/humidity at the time of application.

ALWAYS keep an eye on anything you are stripping. ASSUME NOTHING!!!!

DUB

Eljay

A quick egg crate side story. As you may or may not know that the egg crates for 70 are different for 71-72. I did not learn this untill recently and checked my 70 and they were wrong. So at Carlisle this year I bought an OK set to some day change them out. While there I saw the guy that I bought the car from with a 71 for sale. Last year when I was buying my car he mentioned that he was working on this car. What do you know there are 70 egg crates on the 71 hummm.....

emccomas

Zinc chromate primer?

Alan 71

Hi,
An interesting aside is that some silver and gray cars, still with original paint, have been seen with grills that didn't have the chromed edges exposed as is typical for other colors.
Regards,
Alan

DUB

Not that I am aware of...due to the heavy metals. I would have to look at the MSDS sheets and see what is in it....and it is in the industrial line in my paint system that has been deleted.....some time ago. Made specifically for chrome and stainless surfaces.

DUB