Paint Removal

[Flexicoker]

Well, I searched the HAMB and couldn't find anything pertaining to this, so here it goes:

I decided to start stripping some of the paint off of my '48 chevy tonight. I started using this gelatenous snot-like paint/flesh stripper that I've had for a couple of years. I think it's called Pro Stripper, but I'm not sure since it Pro stripped all the paint off it's container. Anyways, the stuff took FOREVER, and would only take off one layer at a time (theres at least 5 layers on the car). I also tried those black sponglike looking paint/rust stripper die grinder wheels that they sell at wally-mart with equally slow results. And I tried some muratic acid substitute which didn't work on the paint at all. What are you guys using? I've heard not to sandblast the body as it will distort the metal, what about some other sort of media-blasting?

Thanks,
Eric

[lownslow]

a good sand blaster can do it with out warping the metal.......get some aircraft stripper ....its heavy duty paint stripper ....the trick is put it on in one direction and dont touch it....in other words dont brush it on and keep moving it around . it needs to seal or skin over to work .then when ya get it on there put some plastic sheeting on it to keep it from drying or evaporating..a cheap plastic drop cloth will do from your local hardware store ....it may take a couple of times but it will work .....i have done this MANY times.......you can get aircraft stripper at some auto parts stores or at any auto paint store..........

[Flexicoker]

Thanks, before I came inside I put on a think layer of the snotty stuff and put in a plastic trash bag, so its soaking in there now and I'll so how it works tomorrow.

[chopolds]

Score the existing paint with a razor blade before applying stripper. It will allow the stripper to creep under the layers of paint and lift off more layers than one at a time.
Aircraft stripper is the strongest I've used. Even sand blasting is a slow go with that many layers of paint!

[Petejoe]

I've seen guys actually use the razor blade to remove the paint much like taking it off of a glass window. A good fast wire wheel on a cutoff grinder worked for me.

[50mercfan]

i used a 10" electric buffer with 10" 3-M stik-it 80 grit sand paper. striped the roof of the merc in about 10 minutes. i used the razor blade method on the cougar it works pretty well but not in all areas.