Aluminum Decklid paint removal

[SB914]

What's the best way to remove paint from an aluminum decklid?
I've seen pictures of other decklids that had the paint removed by what looked like a grinding wheel or a rotary sander. While I'm no bodyman or painter, I know that you would not want to get too aggressive with grinding, either by using a heavy grit paper, or a high speed and heating the lid and warping it.
I'm guessing a variable speed grinder on the lowest setting with one of those abrasive type wheels?
Or a chemical that won't damage the aluminum?

Thanks in advance.

Bob

[G450X]

Check out Freddie's 101 body work link in this section.

Try aircraft stripper - aircraft are almost always aluminum - it's fast and you have a relatively small piece.

I wish I had an aluminum engine lid to have to worry about how to strip it!

[SB914]

After posting last night, I tried searching on the internet of some other ways to get this done and came across soda blasting. Again, I'm no expert in this area, but has anyone done this on aluminum body parts?
Some youtube videos show airplanes getting soda blasted, but I'm not sure the airplane skins are the same thickness gauge as an aluminum decklid.

Thanks again.

[E Sully]

http://www.crankshaftcoalition.com/wiki/Soda_blasting
Paint Manufacturers don't like Soda Blasting.

[962porsche]

in my shop we will soda blast some things it has it's uses .
would we do it to just one single panel like a trunk lid NO !
the things we will soda blast are complete fiberglass cars complete aluminum cars and things along that line . never metal parts or cars with steel panels .
for some thing like what you have we would do it one of two ways .
the 1st is to use the old type of DA that you can set on a grind mode and using 80 grit DA paper strip the finish that way . just be dam sure you hold the DA as flat as you can .
then with 99% of the finish removed you change the DA to the palm type and still using 80 grit DA the rest of the finish off the panel . then change the sand paper to 180 still on the da and sand the hole panel again . then spray a coat or two of a good quality E-primer .

the 2nd way is to use automotive / aircraft paint remover once you have the finish removed wash the panel with water and dry it . again with a palm DA sander using 80 grit DA paper sand the panel then again change grits to 180 and resand it . then doing the same as i stated before spray a coat or two of a good quality E-primer ( Etch or Epoxy ) . do any needed body work over the top of the E-primers and if you have any spots were you went down to the bare aluminum again recoat the area with more E-primer and then use a filler primer . if you have no body plastic work at all to do you can just E-prime then seal and go right to a top coat base / clear or single stage .

so is the clean up from soda blasting any worse then any other type of blasting well no not really just deferent . does it still sick monkey balls to do HELL yes ! but it's still the same for all blasting yes you always have clean up .

[JJ 911SC]

[SB914]

Thanks guys for the help (to the guys who responded in the Paint/Bodywork section too).
I think I'm going the paint stripper route and found this at the local car store.
As I'm bringing up my "AIRCRAFT" paint remover to the checkout, I'm reading the label to see if it's OK on aluminum, but notice something funny on the back label.
Go down to the blue line in the middle of the 2nd photo, and to the right.





Yep, That's right! AIRCRAFT paint remover NOT meant to be used on AIRCRAFT!

Oh well, will post pictures when I can get this decklid stripped.

Thanks again.

[962porsche]

that has to do with the FAA and not that it will not work on aluminum .
what will happen if you get stripper on any wiring to a airplane ?
if you read the backs of many products it's funny what some of them say .
i like the one's that state : may cause cancer on laboratory animals in California .
so i quess it's ok for the rest of the world ?

[A horse with no name]

Hi...I have used it on aluminum on different occasions and it works very well... Very quick and easy.

It is best to mask any body seams and sand the paint off of these areas after stripping.

Brush it on and use a plastic scraper - The paint stripper will cause a slight 'burn' but no problem... After you wash it well, use a 'silicon -wax' cleaner before sanding. It can be purchased at most auto supply shops.

Sand with 800 to remove all traces of paint and 'burn' marks - (machine is best)

Because it is aluminum it will need to be first primed with an aluminium etching primer - Your automotive paint dealer will give you all the info you need.

* Note: Use the 'silicon - wax cleaner' before sanding and before priming or painting.

You will like how well the automotive - aircraft paint stripper works.