Hi all, i am very close to the point in my project where i start to strip the paint and i plan on doing to right back to bare metal before doing any welding. I have heard it takes a long time and its a bastard job lol. Whats the best tools, abrasives etc to use, and best techniques? Work is carried out in a garage and theres no time constraint, the most important thing for me is doing the best job possible. Any help or advice out there please? Links to what i need to buy and where from etc?

 

paint stripper or acid dipping if you are determined to bare metal it though there is really no need to bare metal a car. the best base for new paint is old paint that is still in good condition eg not flaking or reacted in anyway. in my opinion you are giving yourself more aggro by bare metaling it

 

Get it shot blasted or dipped, what it would cost would probably work out cheaper than your materials and labour, it will take days and days with a wire wheel.

Don't forget you will want to prime it shortly after stripping too as the bare metal will start to rust very quickly.

 

Would it rust even in a dry garage?

Ive thpught about gettimg ot shot blast, or buying the kit to do it myself, i have been told to use plastic pellets though, and i cant find any info on that at all

 

it would, plus with greasy hands all over it it would need preparing again before painting. I would blast or strip any sections that need repair, then once the shell is good and ready for paint, get it fully stripped then and primed straight after.

 

diy blasting can go wrong quickly you would be surprised how easy it is to thin or warp panels on cars blasting them i cringe when i see cars that have had outer bodypanels blasted as i hate to think how thin they now are! though i hear soda blasting is a lot more forgiving

 

I thought the same about the blasting, but it must be better than using a wire wheel or sander? If blasted carefully it would cause less damage?

I wouldnt attempt it without proper practice first, i have plenty of spare panels ive kept for practicing stripping, welding and painting on

 

its quicker yes i have used the twist knot wire brushes for doing floors on cars before, they look like they would be aggresive as fuck but they are not they dont mark the steel at all but are pretty good at getting everything else off

 

Sounds good they are fairly cheap to buy too

 

Soda bust it, wont damage the metal work and leaves behind a rust resistance surface for a while

 

the wire wheels are cheap its just the grinders you kill that mount up lol

 

As above I would say soda blasting, I looked into this for when I do my vw camper and read that soda blasting does not create heat to warp panels unlike sand blasting and also the residue left over on the panels gives them some protection from moisture in terms of rust forming. Still wouldn't like to leave it for long though so I would plan on getting it blasted as quickly as possible then painted pretty soon thereafter.

 

Cool i will look into soda blasting! I will most likely blast the bits where welding is needed first, carry out the welding then blast the whole thing once ready to prime soon after. Any tips on primers, base coats chaps? Neex a gun aswell if anyone can recommend a brand?

 

Just had a quote for blasting, outside and engine bay = 750! Can buy my own kit for that surely?

 

Just found a soda blasting kit for less than 200 quid! Gotta be worth a punt surely?

Millarsodablasting.com

Anybody know of them? I figure irs gotta be worth buying a kit and doing it myself, i can also use it to clean the underside and engine bay componants, strip wheels for restorations, and even use it for work cleaning roofs if need be lol

 

Not sure which one you are looking at on there, but don't forget you will need a compressor/lines, all the media, some way of recovering the media and dust, all the ppe that will be needed as well etc. Don't underestimate just how much mess it will make either.

 

I was looking at the msb soda blasting pot, says it comes with everything you need ie hoses etc, ppe i have, air compressor and hoses i have. I know its gonna be messy, i plan on painting the garage floor as its bare concrete at the moment, should make it easier to sweep up the mess. Il also hang dust sheets up around the shell to minimise spread