Corvette
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Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 25
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Corvette
My cousin wants me to paint his corvette. I have painted quite a few metal cars, few plastic bumpers , few fiberglass hoods but vever a vette.
I have read alot on how its done. My question : He said he chemically stripped some of it and used a razor blade to get some of it off.
It has sat outside some and under a tarp some.
Is this a disaster waiting to happen with the glass exposed to the elements ? Any help greatly appreciated.
I have read alot on how its done. My question : He said he chemically stripped some of it and used a razor blade to get some of it off.
It has sat outside some and under a tarp some.
Is this a disaster waiting to happen with the glass exposed to the elements ? Any help greatly appreciated.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,442
Likes: 87
From: bluff dale tx
dawn soap and water . wash it several times and then put it in the sun to dry. it takes a long time for water to dry out of glass. i would not use any solvent on it. there's enough chemstrip soaked into it now.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 11,358
Likes: 379
From: Plano TX
3M Scuffpad ("scotchbrite") and lacquer thinner. THEN soapy water and scuffpad. Finally clean water and scuffpad. Let it dry atleast 24 hours in the sun, longer if it is not hot where you are. The lacquer thinner will get into the 'glass like water can't and neutralize the stripper.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,442
Likes: 87
From: bluff dale tx
captain lee's and most other strippers are neutralized by water . after you strip it scrub it good with scotchbrite and water then after it is rinsed well use dawn soap. after it drys it will be ready to epoxy.
from their instructions
# This product neutralizes with water.
from their instructions
# This product neutralizes with water.
Last edited by porchdog; Aug 17, 2009 at 01:07 PM.
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
From: Downey California
I lifted the body on my 58 a few weeks ago and it is pretty stripped now. I was wondering, or have a few questions, as to the removal of paint for body work prep. The vette was originally teal and has been painted a dark brown over the teal. It appears the glass is the yellowish type, then gray primer, then teal, then brown. My question is do I take a DA to it or use chemicals? I am in so cal and am pretty set on having J&D Corvette do the bodywork...any thoughts?
Race Director
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 11,358
Likes: 379
From: Plano TX
captain lee's and most other strippers are neutralized by water . after you strip it scrub it good with scotchbrite and water then after it is rinsed well use dawn soap. after it drys it will be ready to epoxy.
from their instructions
# This product neutralizes with water.
from their instructions
# This product neutralizes with water.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 11,358
Likes: 379
From: Plano TX
It's very easy to mess up with a DA. I'd recommend chemical strip. I know porchdog hates chem, but I've had good luck with it. The key is to get all of it neutralized before any body work begins.
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Drifting
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,442
Likes: 87
From: bluff dale tx
refer to the tech sheets on strippers. almost all recommend against using on glass. klean strip makes a glass stripper but even it warns against leaving it on more than 5 min and is to be cleaned up with water. lacquer thinner melts contaminates into the glass and drys too fast to float contaminates for cleaning. lacquer thinner is also not compatible with urethanes or epoxy. if you feel you must use a solvent then use a slow urethane reducer but even then you are soaking contaminates into the glass.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 11,358
Likes: 379
From: Plano TX
You have to be liberal with the thinner. Basically wash the car in it while scrubbing with the scuffpad. Doing an entire car will easily empty most of a 5 gallon drum of thinner.
At the place my car is there's also a shell of a '74. That one was done with chem strip, washed with thinner and shot with urethane primer. The project was halted and it has sat outdoors, uncovered, in the Texas weather for 10 years. The primer still looks perfect. No cracking, peeling, blisters or anything. If there were contaminates in the glass it should have showed by now.
I can take some pictures of it if you're curious.
At the place my car is there's also a shell of a '74. That one was done with chem strip, washed with thinner and shot with urethane primer. The project was halted and it has sat outdoors, uncovered, in the Texas weather for 10 years. The primer still looks perfect. No cracking, peeling, blisters or anything. If there were contaminates in the glass it should have showed by now.
I can take some pictures of it if you're curious.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,442
Likes: 87
From: bluff dale tx
i just finished a 57 restomod that was done that way. a few more years and this car would be close to scrap. fiberglass never stops curing. it will degrade to a powdery finish which must be removed. urethane primer offers 0 protection from uv or moisture. it is also not the first coat of choice by corvette restorers that i know. epoxy will seal the glass and protect it. this is just my opinion after 40 years of working in the industry. i don't make the rules i just try to follow them . this is why i started the thread for beginners. there are professionals and paint mfgrs in the thread sharing tips on refinishing.
you might want to call the ppg tech line and ask what they recommend when using their product.
you might want to call the ppg tech line and ask what they recommend when using their product.
Last edited by porchdog; Aug 21, 2009 at 09:30 AM.
