I have another question.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 112
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From: LaVista Ne
I have another question.
I have a '72 coupe that will need some body work and paint. I will be doing all the work, and was wondering what is the best way to get the old paint off. I have access to a sand blaster,,,, Wait Wait, I know you can't sand blast a vett body, i was wondering if you can run soda media in a sand blaster? Is soda blasting safe? I read one thread that said he took his body to get soda blasted and was unhappy with the results. My body is in pretty good shape. I have cracks in both front wheel wells. The body was taken off by a prior owner and put on a stand that did not support the front clip. I think the weight is what caused the cracks. I also have crackes in the rear corners that will need fixed. I will be asking about fiberglass work later, right now I am wondering what is the best way to get the paint off. Thanks for reading, and all your input. 
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
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From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Yes.
You can also use chemical stripping with one of the fiberglass compatible strippers like Auto Spray Strip.
You can physically sand the color coat off if you want to go that route. Creates sanding dust, but you can control what you're removing as you get to the primer coat.
You can scrape it off with a razor blade in a holder. Scary, but it works.
Good luck.
You can also use chemical stripping with one of the fiberglass compatible strippers like Auto Spray Strip.
You can physically sand the color coat off if you want to go that route. Creates sanding dust, but you can control what you're removing as you get to the primer coat.
You can scrape it off with a razor blade in a holder. Scary, but it works.
Good luck.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 112
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From: LaVista Ne
The only thing about a chemical stripper is getting into the door jams and things. I'm not sure I can get the nooks and cranies very well. I am guessing that soda blasting would have a similar result as sand blasting, which I like, but and concerned about harming the glass, as I have not soda blasted glass before. I might be safer going the chemical route as far as not harming the glass I suppose.
Kelley
Kelley
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,813
Likes: 1
From: JOPPA MD
The only thing about a chemical stripper is getting into the door jams and things. I'm not sure I can get the nooks and cranies very well. I am guessing that soda blasting would have a similar result as sand blasting, which I like, but and concerned about harming the glass, as I have not soda blasted glass before. I might be safer going the chemical route as far as not harming the glass I suppose.
Kelley
Kelley
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,871
Likes: 6
From: Sault Ste. Marie Ontario
I went the chemical route with mine and it seemed to work out well.
I used a product called Tal-Strip and it removed the paint without damage to the glass.
Rinsing each panel thoroughly with a lot of water is essential to ensuring all the product is removed.
As for your door jambs it works well in that area assuming you will be painting those with the car.
If you are trying to avoid painting the jambs make sure you tape them off well as the product will seep.
As mentioned above, there are a lot of options with this task.
This is just one that worked well for me.
Here is the car after striping.
I used a product called Tal-Strip and it removed the paint without damage to the glass.
Rinsing each panel thoroughly with a lot of water is essential to ensuring all the product is removed.
As for your door jambs it works well in that area assuming you will be painting those with the car.
If you are trying to avoid painting the jambs make sure you tape them off well as the product will seep.
As mentioned above, there are a lot of options with this task.
This is just one that worked well for me.
Here is the car after striping.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,264
Likes: 3
From: Vero Beach FL
I used 2 gallons of Citrus Strip to soften the paint some areas required two applications and then scrapped with razor blades. Next wiped over it with synthetic steel wool pads saturated with lacquer thinner. In the hard to reach areas I used a wire brush. Then washed with Dawn soap and water then rinsed in water. It was not really all that hard.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 915
Likes: 2
From: Lima, OH -- 69 L71 427/435hp
I used Captain Lee's fiberglass stripper and food wrap and it worked great. Afterwards I sanded the nooks and crannies and whatever didn't come all the way off. And I used duct tape to keep it from going places I didn't want it too.
A word of advice, be sure to wash it really good and, if it were me, I'd let it sit in the sun or under some heat lamps for a while to bake out any stripper that may have got into the fiberglass before priming it.
Which is what happened to me, and let me tell you, it was loads of fun trying to get it out and respraying it numerous times until it was finally gone.
A word of advice, be sure to wash it really good and, if it were me, I'd let it sit in the sun or under some heat lamps for a while to bake out any stripper that may have got into the fiberglass before priming it.
Which is what happened to me, and let me tell you, it was loads of fun trying to get it out and respraying it numerous times until it was finally gone.
Last edited by 1ARACE; Dec 30, 2009 at 03:03 PM.
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Drifting
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,871
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From: Sault Ste. Marie Ontario
