Paint removal advice

[tkruger]

Need advice on what the best method for this car (1941 Chevy Master Deluxe)is to get the paint off. I am using the 1987 Monte Carlo for driving while working on this. I am working with my two young sons so toxic chemicals are last resort. There are two coats of paint counting the original. Type is unknown. Some panels like the trunk lid will need to have the top layer of paint removed. Others like the roof the paint is faded but solid.

Currently I am using an orbital sander with 80 grit sand paper. Not to sound lazy but with a job this large is there anything better? To date only the front fenders, hood and glass remain on the car. All other items such as trim, bumpers brackets etc. have been removed, tagged and bagged. Picture below is how the car was received.

Goal is not perfection. This is a father sons project that we are looking to have a successful end result. 20 / 20 car is acceptable considering we are learning as we go.

 

[fleming442]

Drop down to 24,36, or 50 grit, and see how it goes. 80 as an initial seems too fine to me......

 

[Longroof79]

Buzzing the whole car down with a DA sander is going to be a time consuming job. I could understand your concern for using harsh/ toxic chemicals around your boys.
In the past I've used aircraft stripper, but that stuff is pretty harsh. It is pretty effective stuff, though.
There is another method a friend told me about. It's a type of blasting, but uses water. According to memory, it's not cheap, but no toxicity involved. I'll see if I can find it.
In fact, my friend had the roof of his wagon stripped using this process. A person can come out to your house or you can bring the car to them.

Btw, your '41 sedan reminds me of an old friend of mine that had a '41 Chevy coupe, that same color.

 

[fleming442]

Hey, there's a member here, some guy that goes by Clutch. He's got this fancy green tank on a trailer with a big compressor and a water tank and, he's in Upper Jersey!

I bet he needs some practice. 😛

 

[Max Headroom]

Buzzing the whole car down with a DA sander is going to be a time consuming job. I could understand your concern for using harsh/ toxic chemicals around your boys.
In the past I've used aircraft stripper, but that stuff is pretty harsh. It is pretty effective stuff, though.
There is another method a friend told me about. It's a type of blasting, but uses water. According to memory, it's not cheap, but no toxicity involved. I'll see if I can find it.
In fact, my friend had the roof of his wagon stripped using this process. A person can come out to your house or you can bring the car to them.

Btw, your '41 sedan reminds me of an old friend of mine that had a '41 Chevy coupe, that same color.

It's called Wet Abrasive Blasting. I have used it and it is very, very effective yet still pretty safe. My friend patented the technology, then made some bad business decisions and a lot of other companies now use the technology. While it is by far the easiest way I have ever seen to strip a complete car to the metal in about six hours, the people doing it are expensive.

 

[tkruger]

Unfortunately this is a budget build. I saw Harbor Freight had a basic sandblaster for under $40. It holds 50lb of material. I have a 33 Gallon 2.5 running HP compressor. would something like that be even worth considering? I know time is money but money is limited too.

 

[motorheadmike]

Pay a tweaker to chem strip it for you away from your house/family. Seriously - just go panel by panel/section by section to minimize the mess and toxicity of the chem stripper.

 

[Texas82GP]

My vote would be soda blasting but that might not be in your budget. I've never had it done for me but it looks like the way to go. Doesn't hurt the glass, etc. Otherwise, I would probably DA the car but you don't really have enough compressor. You are going to have to stop and let that thing rest or you will burn it up. Cool car!

Don't use sand. I recommend against trying to blast it yourself outside. It can be done but is a big mess and again, you don't have enough air. You would want to use plastic media to blast it and sweeping it up and sifting the trash out of it sucks. You do more of that than actual blasting. Ask me how I know.

 

[Longroof79]

My vote would be soda blasting but that might not be in your budget. I've never had it done for me but it looks like the way to go. Doesn't hurt the glass, etc. Otherwise, I would probably DA the car but you don't really have enough compressor. You are going to have to stop and let that thing rest or you will burn it up. Cool car!

Don't use sand. I recommend against trying to blast it yourself outside. It can be done but is a big mess and again, you don't have enough air. You would want to use plastic media to blast it and sweeping it up and sifting the trash out of it sucks. You do more of that than actual blasting. Ask me how I know.

Years back, my brother in law was having his Chevy pickup repainted. They soda blasted the entire body. Soda blasting is pretty effective. No toxic mess.
Harbor Freight sells a soda blasting conversion kit for their blaster, plus the media. But you would absolutely need a compressor (and air tank) that could run almost continuously.

As you said, Jared. Sand is a no-no. It leaves a huge mess, plus more chances of overheating the metal.

 

[Longroof79]

It's called Wet Abrasive Blasting. I have used it and it is very, very effective yet still pretty safe. My friend patented the technology, then made some bad business decisions and a lot of other companies now use the technology. While it is by far the easiest way I have ever seen to strip a complete car to the metal in about six hours, the people doing it are expensive.

Thank you for chiming in and refreshing my memory. I also saw a demonstration on You Tube awhile back. If I recall, it was Dennis Gage's F-100 pickup that was being used as a test case. I was pretty impressed on how effortlessly the paint was being stripped off.