Need help stripping the coating on Targa top rain gutters

[Poohsan]

Does anyone know how to remove the factory coating on the Targa tap rain gutters? I have tried the following to remove the coating: scraping, sand blasting, grinding, paint stripper, Methyl Ethel Ketone, and methylene chloride. None of the chemicals work and the grinding and scrapping damages the aluminum. Sand blasting just bounces off the coating and eats the aluminum.

I really need help as my targa top rebuild is stuck in the mud.

Thanks,
Arron

[Won]

A sharp razor?

[Poohsan]

Yes.

I was able to remove a large amount of the coating with a razor. This was the coating that had already pulled away from the metal. I need a suggestion for the remaining coating it will not release from the metal.

[Won]

Originally posted by Poohsan
Yes.

No way! It was half tongue-in-cheek

Can you use heat on the remaining coating?

[KCinBR]

Are these parts powder coated?

I have an interest because I started to remove the rain gutters from my car yesterday for re-painting but It's to cold here to paint so I decided to wait for another time. I figured to sand prime and paint but maybe not.

[Poohsan]

Originally posted by KCinBR
Are these parts powder coated?

I have an interest because I started to remove the rain gutters from my car yesterday for re-painting but It's to cold here to paint so I decided to wait for another time. I figured to sand prime and paint but maybe not.

The rails have a rubberized coating. I¡Çm not sure what process was used. My recommendation is NOT to grind it off. I attempted to remove the rubber using an abrasive disk, sand blasting and a soft bristle wire disk. All of these methods removed the aluminum faster than it removed the rubber. This will ruin the finish of the parts.

In the end I was able to scrape off the coating on the visible areas of the rain gutter. I decided not to try and strip the other as its coating is not damaged. For now I painted the stripped rail with metal etching primer and lacquer paint.

arron

[Poohsan]

Factory coated rain rail on top

Stripped rain rail on bottom

[john walker's workshop]

have you tried aircraft stripper yet? it may take it off, and it may just soften it enough to make it easier to deal with.

[petron5000]

Bumping this old thread. I need to strip one of mine and repaint it. What have you guys used? And, is removal easy?