paint removal
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
paint removal
still dont have a vette still dreaming but im starting on my bug hot rod putting a v8 in it but i was wondering what grit would b the best to start sanding off the old paint and not scratch the metal or atleast not badly.
and the old bugs used lead based paint i heard im guessing a resperatore will b the only precation ill need to worry about. i know there beetle forums and that but most of them dont rly know much and not much traffic so that y im askin here cause u guys know way to much about everything. ty
o side note i know u can use stripper or blasting but dont rly wanna deal with the chemcals n blastings a lil expensive
and the old bugs used lead based paint i heard im guessing a resperatore will b the only precation ill need to worry about. i know there beetle forums and that but most of them dont rly know much and not much traffic so that y im askin here cause u guys know way to much about everything. ty
o side note i know u can use stripper or blasting but dont rly wanna deal with the chemcals n blastings a lil expensive
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 2,541
Likes: 0
From: Chicago
still dont have a vette still dreaming but im starting on my bug hot rod putting a v8 in it but i was wondering what grit would b the best to start sanding off the old paint and not scratch the metal or atleast not badly.
and the old bugs used lead based paint i heard im guessing a resperatore will b the only precation ill need to worry about. i know there beetle forums and that but most of them dont rly know much and not much traffic so that y im askin here cause u guys know way to much about everything. ty
o side note i know u can use stripper or blasting but dont rly wanna deal with the chemcals n blastings a lil expensive
and the old bugs used lead based paint i heard im guessing a resperatore will b the only precation ill need to worry about. i know there beetle forums and that but most of them dont rly know much and not much traffic so that y im askin here cause u guys know way to much about everything. ty
o side note i know u can use stripper or blasting but dont rly wanna deal with the chemcals n blastings a lil expensive
Buy a pack of razor blades and start scraping. It's a lot of work, but it works. Plus, you won't have to worry about the lead paint particles in the air. Good luck!
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 107
Likes: 0
From: Cabot AR
I have never heard of lead based paint in VW production, vw used a electro dip on all cars exported to US as I remember, been a while though. Best way to remove paint is media blasting but if you must sand it off use 80 grit on a BOARD or flexable pad. With the amount of materials you'll use will probably be about the same price as blasting. You have something in common with the vets, lots of compound curves that are easy to mess up, what year bug are you working on, I've restored several 68 and newer so I can tell you there are several places on the body that will probably be weak and major care must be taken no matter what method you use.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,694
Likes: 833
From: WI
The standard way most guys remove paint on metal-bodied cars is by using a Dual Action (DA) sander and 40 grit or 80 grit. I typically use a 'mud hog' (8 inch gear-drive DA) with 40 grit. Can strip a car in a couple hours easy. All this is dependant on having an air compressor. If you don't have a compressor, if it's original paint, you might not have too much trouble sanding it down by hand (it will be thin). If it's got 2-3 layers of paint then chemical stripping might be the easiest way. It won't cost that much, or take that long. Any stripper liike Zip Strip or Aircraft Stripper should do the trick. Here is a site on bodywork that may be helpful: http://www.repairnation.com . Good luck,
Mark G
Mark G
