Paint stripper Qs
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,766
Likes: 78
From: montague michigan
C2 of Year Finalist (stock) 2019
Paint stripper Qs
before I knew of the local walnut blaster, I had used a stripper to get the parts cleaned up on the car. My body man says that I should be using baking soda too nutilize the stripper or it will continue to eat at the fiberglass and show back up in the paint. When I stripped everything, I used soap and water with a scrub brush. Then I wet sanded the whole peice smooth where there was heavy paint. So I think everything was cleaned and rinsed good. Has anyone every heard of the baking soda thing? Or is this a old body man tale? I looked on the can of stripper it says nothing of the baking soda, but just water and soap. Give your thoughts guys!!! Thanks Troy
Melting Slicks<br><img src="/forums/images/ranks/3k-4k.gif" border="0">
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,274
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From: Colorado Springs Colorado
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2023 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
over 20 yrs ago, I used a paint stripper (can't recall the brand) on a '75 Vette. Worked on a small section at a time (2' x 2') and had a hose next to me. As soon as I scraped off the paint goo in the area I was working on, I hosed the area down thoroughly. Once I was done with the stripper, I still needed to do quite a bit of sanding. Then I cleaned the whole body with lacquer thinner, sealed and primed it before painting. Never had a problem after painting.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 19,294
Likes: 2,754
From: Charlotte NC
FOR WHAT IT IS WORTH:
I have been using chemical stripper for well over 30 years and all I do is use GOOD automotive grade PRIMING lacquer thinner to clean off the panel and wipe it down.
I do not use water due to it can turn the stripper into a sludgy gummy crap (regardless of what the instructions state)....while the lacquer thinner thins it down and allows me to get it off the panel.
As for in baking soda...CAN NOT neutralize the active ingredient in the chemical stripper.....which is more than likely METHYLENE CHLORIDE. Clearly your body man does not know chemistry. Anther POOR ATTEMPT at 'fear tactics '. Just saying.
DUB
I have been using chemical stripper for well over 30 years and all I do is use GOOD automotive grade PRIMING lacquer thinner to clean off the panel and wipe it down.
I do not use water due to it can turn the stripper into a sludgy gummy crap (regardless of what the instructions state)....while the lacquer thinner thins it down and allows me to get it off the panel.
As for in baking soda...CAN NOT neutralize the active ingredient in the chemical stripper.....which is more than likely METHYLENE CHLORIDE. Clearly your body man does not know chemistry. Anther POOR ATTEMPT at 'fear tactics '. Just saying.
DUB
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,680
Likes: 68
From: Towanda KS
Agree with others here, your body man is confused. Baking soda will neutralize acid, but will do nothing with the stripper. I too stripped my own car 20 years ago with Captain Lee's and cleaned up with the cheapest lacquer thinner I could buy.
No problems after all these years.
No problems after all these years.
Last edited by project63; Jun 17, 2017 at 06:46 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 5,941
Likes: 939
From: Chattanooga Tennessee
I used dubs method after talking to him. Kleen strip Aircraft Stripper. Squeegee. About 3' square at a time. Follow up with lacquer thinner. Beautiful.
Still the worse part of painting one, but beautiful.
Still the worse part of painting one, but beautiful.
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Le Mans Master
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From: Puget Sound
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2009
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From: Chattanooga Tennessee
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 5,941
Likes: 939
From: Chattanooga Tennessee
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 5,941
Likes: 939
From: Chattanooga Tennessee
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,311
Likes: 223
From: Temecula CA
That's the way I was taught to strip a Corvette
My prior body/paint man (Bill Headley, Upland Ca) used this same basic method and he probably did several hundred Corvettes.
He would mask off a small area, like one-fourth of the hood, hit it with yellow aircraft stripper, scrape off most of the goo with a bondo paddle, hit it with a copper scrub pad (no rust risk), and finish with LT wipe. Says he never had a return with this method.
Because the aircraft stripper is so hot (mucho methylene chloride) the working time is shorter with minimal penetration into the glass/resin matrix. Which is a good thing!
He would mask off a small area, like one-fourth of the hood, hit it with yellow aircraft stripper, scrape off most of the goo with a bondo paddle, hit it with a copper scrub pad (no rust risk), and finish with LT wipe. Says he never had a return with this method.
Because the aircraft stripper is so hot (mucho methylene chloride) the working time is shorter with minimal penetration into the glass/resin matrix. Which is a good thing!
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 4,171
Likes: 335
From: Homewood Alabama
I used Rustoleum paint stripper recently and was impressed with how well it worked. It's about $25.00 per gallon from summit racing. It works far better than the aircraft stripper that local auto parts stores sell.
My body guy took all of the paint off my 66 with just a razor nothing else worked great
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 4,171
Likes: 335
From: Homewood Alabama
