Hey guys, anyone had any experence with stripping smc panels....what chemicial strippers would you recomend. I cant seem to find anything specific for smc panels.

thanks
Bill

 

Check this web site:
http://www.corvettecentral.com/
And this page on that site in particular:
http://www.parts123.com/parts123/yb.dll?parta~partsort

Capn Lee's Spra' Strip...safe for use on SMC/fiberglass.

 

dont body shop strippers use beads blasting not chemicals to strip corvette or fiberglass body pannels.

 

Blasting probably makes sense if an entire vehicle is being stripped; if you're only doing a couple of panels, chemical stripping is probably best, but it would depend on the competitiveness of stripping shops in your area.

Several blast media can be used...polypropylene beads and baking soda crystals are two media that I know are preferred. Even sand or glass could be used, but it would be much trickier to avoid damage with these...too much blasting pressure, and blooey, you blow a hole clean through.

The blast process has to be done by someone experienced that knows what they are doing, or the body panels can be damaged. I've heard of some cases where the panels were left very rough with exposed fibers (FRP)...the body had to be smoothed with gelcoat and filler before painting. I've heard the safest media for plastic body panels is probably the baking soda; as the particles hit the panel, they explode into dust.

In the days of acrylic lacquer, you would apply the chemical stripper and it took off everything down to the factory primer; then you hand sanded the factory primer off...there was little chance of stripper contamination if you did it properly.

Nowadays, I'm thinking the SMC is less porous than the old FRP, but I still wouldn't take any chances. Any chemical stripper indicated as safe for fiberglass should be safe for SMC. The bigger problem today is finding a stripper that will cut the modern urethane finishes...not your daddy's acrylic lacquer.