In desperate need for a stripper!!

bjola · 03-03-2002, 09:12 AM

Don't know what you expected but I am talking about paint-stripper.

I have now completed the mechanical part of removing the paint/underseal from my project -65 fueltank. Pic is from yesterday when I started with heatgun and chisel.

What should I use to get the remains off and have that clean metalsurface? Rotating wirebrush just doesn't seem to work on this rubberized coat.
What paint to use to get the tank back into that "as new" look again?

I'm sure someone has the answers for me

bjola · 03-03-2002, 09:16 AM

Ops pic was gone!

pwd72s · 03-03-2002, 09:20 AM

Man, how labor intensive can you get? Since nobody here has responded, guess I'd contact a local body shop, ask them what product they would use? Perhaps have the tank blasted? Not with sand, but a softer agent of some kind. Sure seems to me there has to be an easier way...

Jim Sims · 03-03-2002, 09:57 AM

It looks like you're trying to remove the infamous PVC undercoating. It tends to just melt and smear when using a wire brush. I seem to recall reading about a claw like tool that was sold by Wurth(?) to remove this stuff. The tool was mounted in a handgrinder and flailed the PVC off. You might try checking with Wurth. Jim

Efrain68912 · 03-03-2002, 10:20 AM

Have you tried aircraft chemical stripper? Might be worth a shot.

bob tilton · bob tilton's Garage

the aircraft stuff is a must have for stripping. i used it for all my paint stripping needs. much stronger than jasco. BUY THE PROPER MASK!

bjola · 03-04-2002, 01:44 AM

Thanks everybody.

Due to environmental considerations the paint strippers sold here in Sweden hardly remove the wax from the paint anymore!

I know people working in the aicraft industri so I'll give it a try.

Again thanks for the inputs

Bjorn

jpnovak · 03-04-2002, 04:10 AM

When I restored my tank I used a wire brush. OK it was not your average wire brush. See if you can find a braided twist brush. These are made with thicker wire in a twisted pattern to form strands that are about 1cm O.D. There will be many of these to form a cup brush. It is pretty abrasive but, if you are careful, will eat through undercoating faster than anything I have found. BTW, paintstripper will hardly remove this stuff. good luck

Jamie

Brad_H · 03-04-2002, 09:59 AM

I just did my tank last week, but I didn't remove all the coating. My tank looked exactly like yours, with surface rust on the front edge and a few other spots. I just used a screwdriver to chip the stuff away from the rusted spots, sandblasted the rust off and used Por15. Getting it all off would be best, but that stuff is tough! It's much thicker than the undercoating on the rest of the car. I bet an angle-grinder cup brush would take it off, it goes through the regular undercoating very quickly. Makes some sparks, though, don't blow yourself up.

304065 · 03-04-2002, 11:30 AM

Bjola:

I second the above re: hazards of chemical strippers: I just finished stripping the trunk of my 71 in preparation for a fuel cell installation, which included removing the rubberized undercoating from the battery box areas- identical to the coating on the tank. I used Aircraft Stripper, which if not illegal in Sweden, probably SHOULD be: it contains Methylene Chloride, Methyl Ethyl Ketone, Ammonia, and a bunch of other nasty stuff. It will SOFTEN but not remove the undercoat.

Take heed that you do not get ANY of this stuff on anything that you care about: I was wearing a long sleeve sweatshirt, thick rubber gloves, a respirator mask, goggles and a face shield, and yet still managed to get some of the stripper on my cheek when I reached up to wipe the sweat caused by wearing a long sleeve sweatshirt, thick rubber gloves. . . within 5 seconds the feeling was as though someone had applied a cigarette lighter to my skin, and I have a nice burn mark that is still visible after 2 weeks. Think of it as a "schmiss" or german duelling scar.

I followed up the removal with a 5" die grinder with a wire cone brush running at high speed- it will generate sparks, but the material will come off; I spent about 5 hours stripping the forward area of the trunk, and I'd budget that for doing the tank.

Best of luck: now, what do you intend to replace the factory undercoating with?

bjola · 03-04-2002, 12:46 PM

John,
thanks for your input regarding stripper, I will consider that!

I plan on using gray Carosol Body 500 (Swedish product). Don't know what it is called in the US but it is normally used under the paint to protect the surface from stone chipping. This, I hope, will give the same textured appearance as the original "paint".