Paint removal

[8kgold69]

I read serveral threads regarding paint removal with walnut shell. What grade or type of walnut shell should I use? How much will I need to strip just the front clip and hood?

Thanks

 

[corvette66]

Not sure about the walnut shell, but many people will use a razor blade. I highly do NOT recomend this. my whole car was full of little nicks that I was only able to cover with a thick feather fill primer. Try using a rotory sander to cut through the top few layers then block the car. Takes a while but turns out a lot nicer.

 

[KANE]

... Try using a rotory sander to cut through the top few layers then block the car. Takes a while but turns out a lot nicer.

I don't trust sanders. If they are left in once place or the pressure applied to any govern area is too hard... it will leave marks.

I'd block it wet progressively with 400 to get the old paint off and then 600 to reduce the scratches left by the first go round. Then primer it, block it again- maybe using 0000 steel wool or 1200 grit, then paint.

I personally like the gravity fed guns. If you get the pressure (on the gun) and the reducer right (ratio of paint to what is essentially a thinner) on the base coat, it will be smoother. Same goes for the clear. Getting your ratios right will go along way. You can theoretically err on the clear and just add more coats- just know you'll be buffing longer. Don't go too thick or you'll get crazing as the Fiberglas flexes.

I use PPG polyurethane base & clear. There are lots of choices out there... but I've had the best luck with that line of paint.

You make the biggest impact with the base though! Get that one right for sure. Otherwise, the clear will amplify any base coat problems.

I'd go after the clear with 2000 grit and then follow up with 3000 3M compound. If you go with 1200 on the clear, it will be too rough and will eat the clear too quickly. You'll end up with swirls too and a thin clear coat. If you have drips or runs with the clear- you can knock them down with the 1200- but only on the run... don't get the area to the sides or you'll reduce the clear too much. Use a thin strip of wood to sand the top of the drip and you'll be fine.


Just my $.02- hope that helps!

 

[fine69]

I read serveral threads regarding paint removal with walnut shell. What grade or type of walnut shell should I use? How much will I need to strip just the front clip and hood?

Thanks

Be careful with any type of media blasting with Vettes. Since there is no way to prevent minute particles of the media from being embedded in the fiberglass, you'll need to over the entire car afterwards.

I opted to remove the paint by hand. It took me several weeks to hand-sand mine... well, combination of hand sanding and CAREFULLY using a DA sander.

I used "Captain Lee's Spra-Strip" on the doors... it's the only chemical remover I found that worked well on my car. If you decide to use it, be sure to wear proper skin and eye protection (it's some nasty stuff) - and RINSE thoroughly afterwards.

Ralph

 

[killain]

Be careful with any type of media blasting with Vettes. Since there is no way to prevent minute particles of the media from being embedded in the fiberglass, you'll need to over the entire car afterwards.

I opted to remove the paint by hand. It took me several weeks to hand-sand mine... well, combination of hand sanding and CAREFULLY using a DA sander.

I used "Captain Lee's Spra-Strip" on the doors... it's the only chemical remover I found that worked well on my car. If you decide to use it, be sure to wear proper skin and eye protection (it's some nasty stuff) - and RINSE thoroughly afterwards.

Ralph

I'm sure Ralph used it but didn't memtion it, but I'm sure he used a plastic scraper with the chemical strip which is what I used. Plan on a couple of days to do a really good job, but if you go the blasted way, I have read that using plastic media instead of walnuts shells is much more less damaging than the more harder walnuts shells. The plastic Media is a lot more controllable and you can see better with less dust.

 

[topless82vette]

heat gun and putty knife

 

[JohnZ]

Walnut shell media is VERY sharp and abrasive - I wouldn't use it.