Taking back to metal

[islandjj]

Hi
Could anyone recommend a method to taking car panels back to metal. there are some small areas of rust. When researching the choice seems mechanical or chemical. Some have mentioned soda blasting others chemical (Nitromous etc.) Its an MGA so all panels will be coming off.

Kind regards

 

[steveo3002]

all have thier pros and cons

paint stripper - cheapish but very messy and nasty to use - make sure all the residue is cleaned off fully before paint

media blasting - costs more , make sure the place doing it has car experiance and doesnt roar at it like its a jcb bucket

dipping - costly and will strip all the cavitys etc

 

[DanielW]

Whichever method you choose it will be costly and if time is not important? then you're best stripping them down yourself and any rusted areas wire wheel on drill.

Don't use nitromors as its a poor paintstripper these days,that is the price doesn't warrant the products capability to do the job without layers and layers of the stuff.

Use another brand that has better satisfactory results and has been tested by others who have used it
I can recommend the stuff below in the link,IT WORKS,I tried nitromors on my scoot wheel rims took about half hour before it even blistered the powdercoated paint.used the stuff in the link and it started peeling 10 seconds after application.

http://www.artemisproducts.co.uk/boden-paint-and-glue-stripper-5-litres.html

You could also burn it off with a roofers gas torch (ebay)and a bottle of propane gas.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Clarke-Ga...by_BabyFeedingUtensils_EH&hash=item25962b4e4e

 

[MG David]

I find a wire brush in an angle grinder very effective at taking paint off the steel panels on my MGB. I would not use it on alloy panels though.
For surface rust I then use a flap disc on the angle grinder. Remaining rust in pits or tight corners is then treated with an acid based chemical treatment to remove it. Once the panel is rust free I give it a wipe over with a weak phosphoric acid based treatment to avoid flash rust. Then it is ready for epoxy primmer.

 

[piman]

Hello Islandjj,

for me, although a bit dusty, the best are the strip and clean mesh discs in a grinder, they remove paint without clogging and also remove rust to bright metal which wire brushes do not do. Expensive and don't last that long (keep them as flat as possible to extend the life). This is what I mean:-http://www.silverlinetools.com/en-GB/Products/Power%20Tool%20Accessories/Wire%20Cups/585478,

Alec

 

[DanielW]

Hello Islandjj,

for me, although a bit dusty, the best are the strip and clean mesh discs in a grinder, they remove paint without clogging and also remove rust to bright metal which wire brushes do not do. Expensive and don't last that long (keep them as flat as possible to extend the life). This is what I mean:-http://www.silverlinetools.com/en-GB/Products/Power%20Tool%20Accessories/Wire%20Cups/585478,

Alec

If they don't last long its because its silverline brand,go for a better brand.

 

[islandjj]

Hi
Thanks for all the replies, I might try one panel with a disk and see how I get on, How do I wash the panel after ? I'm thinking of keeping it as dry as possible or is this irrelevant ?

 

[steveo3002]

with the disc it would just leave dust , wipe down or dust off with an airline

 

[Wallace]

Dronco cleaning fleeces are excellent on panels and flat surfaces for paint removal, they also take little to no metal off leaving a clean polished surface. Keep away from sharp edges as they catch easily and fly apart. Best price I could find last time I purchased a batch was from Weldequip. Next best rotary would be the heavy duty cup and knotted brushes, viscous things that eat anything in their path but if too much pressure applied can create heat in thin panels leading to distortion.

 

[langy]

Media blasting is the best way in my opinion, wire brushes tend to burnish the surface and flap wheels tend to remove material.
Zip wheels tend to be good on heavier gauge steel but not car panels , they are easy to deform or buckle.

 

[Wallace]

Zip wheels tend to be good on heavier gauge steel but not car panels , they are easy to deform or buckle.

Zip wheel? Can you enlighten me please as I'm not familiar with the term?

 

[langy]

Zip wheel? Can you enlighten me please as I'm not familiar with the term?

Twisted knot wire wheel that's fits an angle grinder mate

 

[optima21]

I've used nylon abrasive filament brushes in the past, they remove paint slowly and it needs to be clean or they clog up, but it lives a fine finish like a brushed stainless finish. they are also good for intricate area and last a long time
http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Pow...asives/Nylon+Brush+Cup+75mm/d80/sd1920/p90287

 

[Wallace]

Twisted knot wire wheel that's fits an angle grinder mate

Gotcha, cheers.