That looks really good! How many quarts of the Citristrip did you use? And did you also use the Klean-Strip After Wash?

 

Has anyone here tried plastic media blasting?

 

OK....PLASTIC MEDIA BLASTING:....it is fine ..but the person doing it better know what they are doing due to they can screw up the panels. Just 'saying' ....because many years ago I tried it and the guy f'd up the rain gutters of a 64 convertible. SO...plastic media blasting does not do it all. And honestly....I hate the clean up...but heck..I hate the clean up when I sand blast areas....so go figure. It has its places where it works great.

CHEMICAL STRIPPER METHOD. I use Aircraft Stripper...and like I have mentioned to many forum members...it WILL NOT damage the panels IF you watch what you are doing and actually TESTED it to find the procedure to get off what you want. Using 'other' chemical strippers is do-able....but they may not have the strength that the Aircraft stripper does have. I use AUTOMOTIVE GRADE lacquer thinner to clean the panels after using the Aircraft stripper...I do not use water. What other people choose to do is their choice...and I do not care if it is written in the instructions to use water...I use lacquer thinner. It is hard for me to change a procedure of what I do when Corvettes (and metal cars) that I shot 30 years ago and chemically stripped are still good.

RAZOR BLADE METHOD...YEP....I use it first. If I can get most of the paint off and not have to deal with chemicals I will do so and doing that will also save me on chemical stripper.

BUT...also as a contradiction...if I am using razor blades and it is doing well..and I stop and test a spot with my chemical....and the chemical takes it down to bare fiberglass. I stop using the razor blade and go with the chemical because I would still have to use the chemical anyway.

SANDING METHOD ONLY.....YEP....I have had to do this also. It all depends what is on the car....and how much of it is on the car. Keep in mind I do know how to block sand and use power tools....so I have no fear in damaging anything. Because I have eyes like hawk and KNOW when to stop using power tools and go manual sanding.

SODA BLASTING METHOD: I tried it ONCE and will not ever again. What other people choose to do it up tot them.

DUB

 

I went through 2 of the bigger jugs for the whole car. I used a plastic scrapper to remove the stripper and paint then wiped the area down with lacquer thinner. I didn't do the urethane bumpers as I plan to replace them with fiberglass ones.

 

Thanks for all the info. From what I've seen, I will probably use razor blade, chemical and sanding based on the surface and what is there that needs to be removed. That being said, when I get it down to the fiberglass, do I just use regular gray primer or is there a specific primer that needs to be used on fiberglass since this is the first time I've work on fiberglass. Keep in mind, I am going to be doing this is stages as i I have time so I will need to protect the surface as I go until it's ready for paint. Just want to be sure I do it right the first time to avoid doing again too soon.

 

Yes...using a specific primer that will adhere to the SMC body material would be wise. There are several options...one of these may require the use of a paint gun that has a huge fluid tip due to the primer is quite thick.

You definitely want to use a primer that you activate and will harden.

But ..the potential problem I see is that if you strip and prep an area and prime it....and then go to another area. You may find that when prepping the next area that may be directly adjacent to what you just primed....you may also damage that adjacent panel due to often times sanding across body gaps is required.

Protecting your stripped and prepped panels is/are a good idea...but ...in my opinion...the environment you are doing this work in is MORE important.

DUB