Stripping off paint.

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gjones1967
Posts: 66
Joined: Wed Dec 13, 2017 10:32 pm
Your car is a: 1979 Spider
Location: Spring, Texas (Houston area)

Stripping off paint.

Postby gjones1967 » Mon Feb 26, 2018 8:34 pm

I am planning on taking my paintwork down to the metal on my restoration project. Would like input on the best way to do this. Is it sanding and elbow grease or is a chemical stripping the way to go? Interested in opinions and the pros and cons for each way.
Graeme Jones.


1978 Fiat Spider
1979 Fiat Spider
1986 Porsche 944
1976 MGB
2009 Honda Accord
2016 Toyota Tundra.

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Yadkin
Posts: 161
Joined: Fri Jun 27, 2014 10:08 pm
Your car is a: 1974 Spider
Location: Pisgah National Forest, NC

Re: Stripping off paint.

Postby Yadkin » Mon Feb 26, 2018 9:58 pm

I'm no expert and I prefer not to do body and paint- just everything else. But my understanding is that the preferred way now is to sand it off with 150 grit then apply a two-part polyester primer. It fills in the scratches and bonds to the roughed-up metal better than anything. Then use high-build primers and block and with the longest block available. Compatible fillers and more blocking as required. Then color coats, then clear coats optional. All that paint is crazy expensive, like $400/ gallon at the low end. And if you don't use the recommended respirator gear the stuff will catalyze inside your lungs and kill you.

gjones1967
Posts: 66
Joined: Wed Dec 13, 2017 10:32 pm
Your car is a: 1979 Spider
Location: Spring, Texas (Houston area)

Re: Stripping off paint.

Postby gjones1967 » Mon Feb 26, 2018 10:02 pm

Body shop it is then lol.
Graeme Jones.


1978 Fiat Spider
1979 Fiat Spider
1986 Porsche 944
1976 MGB
2009 Honda Accord
2016 Toyota Tundra.

DRUMMOND
Patron 2018
Patron 2018
Posts: 443
Joined: Thu Oct 20, 2011 11:11 pm
Your car is a: Fiat Spyder 2000 1980 Pininfarina

Re: Stripping off paint.

Postby DRUMMOND » Mon Feb 26, 2018 10:11 pm

Hi gjones1967

I took mine down to the metal with chemical paint stripper. Total of 5 paint levels.
pros: easily the least labor intensive, for me anyway.
Cons: You have to make sure you neutralize the stripper in every cranny, Messy clean up, It Burns :D , Messes up body filler if you have any!

bobplyler
Patron 2022
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Posts: 816
Joined: Sat Jan 30, 2010 7:58 pm
Your car is a: 1979 spider 2000
Location: Charlotte, NC

Re: Stripping off paint.

Postby bobplyler » Tue Feb 27, 2018 7:01 am

Back when I had an airplane, some guy at the airport taught shop at the
local high school.

He offered students extra credit to strip his plane.

They used chemical stripper. And got it on the plexiglass windows.

Ended up costing a LOT more than he saved.
1979 Fiat Spider (since new)
2005 Lincoln LS (the wife's car)
2003 Chevrolet Cavalier (daily driver)
1999 Honda Shadow VLX 600
1972 Grumman Traveller 5895L (long gone).

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Odoyle
Posts: 440
Joined: Mon Dec 01, 2014 10:06 pm
Your car is a: 1983 Pinafarina Spider
Location: CA

Re: Stripping off paint.

Postby Odoyle » Tue Feb 27, 2018 12:44 pm

Stripped my 77 to bare metal using aircraft stripper last summer. Paint came off very easily as it was original paint and middle of summer (heat helps a lot). After paint is stripped I scuffed the whole thing with DA, scotchbrite pads, foam blocks to get mechanical adhesion with first coat of paint. Had my painter guy shoot the car in epoxy primer in my driveway and car has great since. Best advice is to find local autobody supply store and buy aircraft stripper, metal scrappers, and automotive grade acetone. Check out my 77/67 restoration for pictures.

gjones1967
Posts: 66
Joined: Wed Dec 13, 2017 10:32 pm
Your car is a: 1979 Spider
Location: Spring, Texas (Houston area)

Re: Stripping off paint.

Postby gjones1967 » Tue Feb 27, 2018 5:09 pm

I like the idea of the aircraft stripper. The car is totally stripped down so there is nothing to damage,

Thanks

Graeme
Graeme Jones.


1978 Fiat Spider
1979 Fiat Spider
1986 Porsche 944
1976 MGB
2009 Honda Accord
2016 Toyota Tundra.

gchocevar
Posts: 108
Joined: Tue Oct 21, 2008 9:40 pm
Your car is a: 1979 Pininfarina 2000
Location: Cleveland Ohio USA

Re: Stripping off paint.

Postby gchocevar » Tue Feb 27, 2018 6:07 pm

I used a standard paint stripper and it removed a lot of the old Bondo. Neutralized it with TFT. Saved lots of money. My restorer/paint shop recommended a very light primer, just enough to stop surface rust. He wanted to dive into the welding and sanding.

Greg


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