Removing paint from textured fibreglass

[CompoSimmonite]

The hardtop on my Mahindra MM540 has been crudely sprayed black in the past. I assume poor preparation means in some areas the paint has flaked off whereas in other it's solid so that means total striping is required. The surface is textured so sanding isn't an option.
How would others strip the bad paintwork off without damaging the textured gel coat underneath ?

Cheers.

Paul H.

 

[rikrobson]

You'd need to media blast using soda or another soft medium. I'd also test a small area first. The problem you have is the resin isn't going to be much harder than the paint.
As an alternative Jet washing may lift off the poorly applied paint. Then Thoroughly degrease and apply paint.

 

[addjunkie]

I cant imagine the fiber glass backing supporting the gelcoay being that substansial. With vibrstion or impact gelcoat is prone to cracking. Be careful.

Might be tempted to just remove, whats loose and re paint. But i knew id read about stripping glass before somewhere and here it is

http://www.ybw.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-246077.html

 

[steveo3002]

try and airline or jet washer , ive sometimes had good sucess that way

 

[cumbriasteve]

Although it sounds so wrong to suggest: I have used Nitromors to strip heavy gloss paint off a dinghy, I applied it and as soon as it bubbled washed it off with a scouring pad made from one of those circular floor polisher pads, the job went well and the gelcoat was unmarked.

 

[rikrobson]

If it's testured its going to be hard to scrub, I would have thought. Again if you used Nitromores then jetwassing it off would probably be the best option. Have you got a jet washer?

 

[norsa]

As said, nitromors is so weak nowadays, it just softens. Perfect for the job. I don't think celly attacks gel coat but don't take my word for it.

 

[the snooper]

ive used nitromors on fibreglass and celly thinners on gel coat with no problems, does op's roof have gel coat on ? if it does it shouldn't be textured

 

[langy]

They do a stripper solely for use on GRP, works well.
With GRP you need to epoxy prime it to get good adhesion.

 

[ibrooks]

Dilunet - it's a fibreglass safe paint stripper but won't touch some types of paint so how effective it is depends on what the paint is.

Iain

 

[langy]

Dilunet - it's a fibreglass safe paint stripper but won't touch some types of paint so how effective it is depends on what the paint is.

Iain

That's the one I was thinking of, it works on celly