Paint Removal

Ehlien

Ehlien

Member
Can anyone recommend a product that will actually remove automotive primer. I have some paint stripper that cuts right through the paint but doesn't make a dent in the primer.
 
I seldom use stripper and never use sand blasting. Use a 4 1/2" angle head grinder and twisted wire wheel and cup wire wheel. This is about as fast as sand blasting but without the warping and eternal sand that cannot be gotten rid of. My first restoration I had the car sand blasted and spent the next five years blowing with compressed air, vacuuming turning up side down and never got rid of the blasting residue completely. Never again.

A word of caution, be careful not to let it get away from you as a nasty wound could ensue! Use goggles and a mask.

Phosphoric acid will do the trick on rust...let it sit over night and then scrub with a wire brush or Scotch Bright.
 
Most paint removers will at least soften up the primer. You should then be able to wipe it off with steel wool. If you are using the cheap remover don't expect great results. My suggestion is to use a aircraft paint remover. It can be purchased at most auto parts store, like Advance Auto. I have also used a heat gun and putty knife to remove paint but you must be careful not to warp the metal. This is very important when removing paint from hoods and trunk lids.
 
if you do use the grinder wire wheel method spend the extra money and buy the grinder with the trigger switch, in case some thing goes wrong, it binds on some thing or you drop it, as soon as your finger leaves the trigger it shuts off, I never did like the permanetly on or off type switches, I drop one once and then the fun began
 
I never use chemical stripper!If you don't get off all the stripper it could come back and ruin your fresh paint.I prefer strip disc or da with 80 grit.
 
Ehlien said:
Can anyone recommend a product that will actually remove automotive primer. I have some paint stripper that cuts right through the paint but doesn't make a dent in the primer.
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Yes,sandpaper. the back edge of hacksaw blades is good for scraping thick paint off of flat and slightly curved surfaces. Works good for trimming away excess body filler,too.

I have seen too many nice paint jobs ruined because somebody used chemical strippers and then missed a spot when cleaning up afterwards. I will never use it on anything.
 
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here in Australia you can buy from the 3m company a product called
the 3m strippit disc for either a 9inch grinder or 4 inch angle grinder or to suit a drill.

the pad is like loose woven material and quite abrasive......removes paint AND primer like nobodys business and won't harm the metal at all....
but won't move rust.....I have stripped a lot of panels with it.

cheers joe
 
The key i ve found for paint stripper is tape 2-3 layers the edges jambs whatever leave an edge you can always sand that also wipe panels with lacquer thinner i have stripped many cars and have yet to have paint failure due to left over stripper just my experience
 
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