Paint Removal

[mylesw]

Hello

I am looking for a cheap way to remove paint from a fender. By cheap I mean that I can do myself. I am thinking about wither using a knotted cup brush on the end of an angle grinder or using paint stripper and a scraper. Can someone give me some advice on the best method?

Thanks for your help.

Myles

 

[rlandrum]

The goal being to get down to bare metal?

Scrapers can gouge the metal. I'd suggest just using a sander.

 

[TR3driver]

Using a chemical stripper will make a lot less mess, IMO. And if you wait until the paint is soft (as you should), you can use a soft scraper (old credit card will do) or light pressure with a metal scraper, pretty much eliminating any possibility of damage to the metal.

But a cup brush & a cheap angle grinder will likely be quicker if you're only doing a small area. It will also remove rust & weak metal. Be sure to wear good eye protection, as it will occasionally throw bits of wire at high speed in any direction. I almost always find one stuck in me somewhere.

Hand sanding is incredibly tedious, so I'd save that for final finishing. Power sanding is better, but makes it much easier to damage the metal (especially high spots).

 

[TR4nut]

Myles-

My first choice would be to go with chemicals since you are only talking one fender. A good quality aviation stripper and some patience to let it do its job should get you there.

If you want to go the sanding route, though, I just did a spot repair with a polisher-sander about 2 weeks and could get down to metal pretty easily - 3M has a nice product that looks a bit like a round brillo pad (non-metal) which took the paint off very quickly - it did scuff the metal much like sandpaper though but it primed and painted just fine.

Randy

 

[TR6oldtimer]

My preference is to use a good aviation paint stripper in a well ventilated area, then sand what the stripper did not remove. An advantage to chemical stripping is it does not remove the thin zinc coating on the metal.

One caution with paint strippers is to not get it into cracks as if not properly removed, it can leach out and lift your paint.

If you decide to use power tools, be sure to not apply a lot of pressure or work in one place for an extended period of time, as it will heat the metal and can cause ripples or warping.

 

[martx-5]

I used chemical strippers on my car, and I stripped the whole thing. I worked pretty good overall, and as Randall says, it is probably the least messy route. One thing to be cautioned about. If there is Bondo under the paint, the paint strippers will attack that also. Might be a good thing it you want to remove it also however.

 

[Guest]

Martin-Senour paint company makes an excellent automotive paint stripper, the best I have ever used. Available from most NAPA dealers. It will also remove your skin. Water soluble and environmentally about as safe as they get.

Another technique that works well is to use a single edge razor blade (in a cheap razor blade holder) to scrape it off, or at least 95% of the paint. Very effective, reasonably quick and non-toxic. Simply lay the blade flat against the surface and push.

 

[Banjo]

Aircraft stripper. Goood stuff. probably the fastest, cleanest way to go.
Use plenty of safety gear. that stuff burns a bit when it hits bare skin.
It should be available at auto paint supply stores, or even hardware stores sometimes.

 

[tdskip]

If you decide not to use chemical stripper, these work great. They make a LOT of dust, and you MUST use a good mask.

 

[Geo Hahn]

...you can use a soft scraper (old credit card will do)...

I used a credit card to strip my TR3... it was my VISA card as I recall.

Seriously, I noticed the last time I was in the local Checker/Kragen/Murray etc auto parts that they now carry aviation stripper in the paints section.

 

[brent615]

tdskip - have you used that "thingy" in the pic? did work? is there a brand name? just starting to strip my tr6 to the metal.

 

[tdskip]

tdskip - have you used that "thingy" in the pic? did work? is there a brand name? just starting to strip my tr6 to the metal.

I did - I ordered several different grit levels from Eastwood and they screw right on the an angle grinder. They work really well, but do wear down. For a fender you could probably use just one, but that would depend upon the thickness of the paint and how may coats. They will cut right through bondo as well.

Wear a good, well fitting, mask when using these.

 

[DougF]

Are you stripping the paint from your Healey or TR4? If so, and you want to repaint the entire fender, I would remove the fender or at least remove the fender bead.
I chemically stripped my TR3 fender, just short of the bead so not to get stripper under it or into the seam. I then sanded as close to the bead as possible. This alone will not work.
I have removed the fenders because even if you can paint right up to the bead, some of it will break away when removing the tape, leaving a disappointing end result.

brent- The name of the thingy is Roloc Bristle Discs made by 3M. They can be used to remove adhesives, paint, and other coatings, heavy oxides and surface contaminants. They are also recommended for weld preparation and gasket material removal.
They are available in 50, 80, and 120 grits. Maybe more. And in 1, 2, 3, and 4 1/2 inch diameters. I do not work for 3M so I don't know the full line.