What to use to remove undercoat?

[Norton47]

Need some help in softening or removing undercoat.
This stuff is hard, looks like it was sprayed on, you can chisel it off and it kind of pops off a section that looks shiny where it attached to the paint.
Is there anything to help soften this stuff?

 

[LastDeadLast]

I've heard to soak it with oil for a few days. However, if you have a place that's well ventilated, I just a butane torch; just get wave the torch over a small area and quicly scrape it off. Works like a charm if you can deal with smell.. my wife, I discovered, for some reason doesn't like the smell of smoldering undercoat.

 

[DonaldA]

I recently took the fenders off my TR 6 and used a heat gun to soften the undercoat, I started with a torch did not like the smell. Good Luck.

 

[PeterK]

Eastwood sells an undercoating remover but I haven't used it.

 

[Tinster]

Try a paint remover heat gun- about $29. at
Ace hardware. They come with 3 different nozzle
sizes. The wide one should soften the undercoat
for an easier scrape job.

 

[Brosky]

Kerosene was a great remover if allowed to soak on for a while and then have additional applications. You could wash it off and it never seemed to hurt the finish under the coating. You would have to be responsible in how you will collect the used portion to recycle. It does have a pretty good life, so it can be reused on additional panels, even when it turns black from the undercoating.

 

[Don Elliott]

I used all of the above plus a hand-held propane torch. It warmed it up, soft enough to enable me to scape it off with a spatula. But be careful !!! It'll drip as flaming gobs and looks like special effects from Star Wars.

 

[dklawson]

I've had good results combining the methods above. I typically put Kerosene in a pump spray bottle and mist the undercoating (typically about 2 square feet at a time). Allow a day or so to soak in. Then use a paint-stripper heat gun and plastic putty knives to scrape it off.

Heat the undercoating until it starts to blister and bubble, then take the heat away and use the plastic putty knife. If you do this on your back, wear face and arm protection. Try not to work directly under where the debris will be falling.

I bought a can of the Eastwood product and did not like the way it performed. It was an expensive lesson.

 

[71tr]

I did the same job using only a hammer and screwdriver/chisel. Tap the chisel rapidly but lightly and it acts like an air chisel. You just move along as the undercoating pops off in chunks. Wear eye protection though. After finishing any remaining undercoat will dissolve when coated with mineral spirits.

 

[TR6oldtimer]

Looks like you are getting ready to tackle that rust damage.

I used the propane torch and paint scraper to remove the bulk of the undercoating and mineral spirits for the streaks left behind. With a good attitude, some music or talk radio, it goes faster then you think.

Just watch out for falling gobs of burning tar.

 

[Adrio]

I had the same stuff to remove. I started to remove it mechanicaly, but I did not like the damage it did to the underlying paint. So what I ended up using with great results is varsol and several rolls of paper towel. I went through several pairs of disposable gloves as well. But in the end I think I did the entire TR4 in a few evenings. Be ready for the smell and mess.

 

[Simon TR4a]

Norton, if the stuff is hard try just scraping it.
I did mine in a cold garage so it was really hard, and was able to break it off in chunks with a paint scraper. I made channels with an old screwdriver then popped off the "islands" of undercoating.
This worked well where the layer of undercoating was thick, and cold weather made the stuff brittle.
Where the coating was thinner this method did not work well, and the heat/solvent method will be better.
Simon.

 

[cyaker]

I vote for the heat gun and stiff putty knife or 1" chisel. Really goes pretty quick. What’s left will come off with a variety of solvents or paint stripper.
I have gotten off the undercoating and in the process of chemically removing the paint. The undercoating was more pleasant to deal with.
I have my body up on a wooden frame a little over 3 feet off the floor. Anyone have any ideas on the best way to deal with the bottom of the floor pans and trunk.

 

[dklawson]

The common thread I see here is scraping with and without heat followed by chemical cleaning. You'll note that most everyone warns about using gloves and/or face protection. I wonder how many of us have been burned (literally) by not taking our own advice. I know I have.

 

[Don Elliott]

I got a few burns. And I wasn't on my back under the car. I had the parts in my vice on the bench. I was doing a total body-off restoration.

 

[JeffS]

I used a grinder to cut out my floor pans - it was easier. But seriously, I've heard dry ice works wonders. Simply freeze the undercoated area and tap it with a hammer. Its supposed to crack and fall off! I know a couple guys who swear by the process, but I've never seen it done in person.

 

[bunzil]

[ QUOTE ]
I used a grinder to cut out my floor pans - it was easier. But seriously, I've heard dry ice works wonders. Simply freeze the undercoated area and tap it with a hammer. Its supposed to crack and fall off! I know a couple guys who swear by the process, but I've never seen it done in person.

[/ QUOTE ]

Kerosene will do it and save the paint. But it's a slow process.