is sanding the best way to remove old paint? what what grit is best to use. gonna start working on some body work this weekend
I've been using Dad's paint remover, from Walmart. It comes with a spray bottle. Spray it on heavy and let it set for 15-20 minutes. Scrap off all you can-repeat. When you get down to the metal I use the 3-M paint remover pads with water, and scrub the last of the paint off. Works good for me anyway.....Chris
You'll need more than a sander If your truck is anything like mine, it will need more than just a sander to get to bright metal. 3M makes some awesome products that will strip old paint and rust. I just got done stripping my bed sides with a combination of 60 grit sandpaper on a air powered jitterbug, sanding discs made by 3M (looks like a lava rock-available at Walmart) and a setup that my brother-in-law turned me on to made by 3M called "Roloc" Bristle Disc. Of course, for the hard to reach places, I used my old time favorite, a sand blaster. AZ is right about a good paint stripper, but it won't remove rust.
3-M also makes a rust removing pad that fits in a drill motor that works very well. My sandblaster gets lots of use also, just have to be carful on flat areas of sheetmetal. It's like hammering with thousands of little ball peen hammers, and leaves you a high spot. Chris
Use the roughest you can find! 60 grit works for me. I agree with AZ on sandblasting. Sandblasting will ruin thinner metal, especially unsupported straight pieces. If it has a support or a natural bend, I'll blast it. If it's thinner guage or straight sheet metal, I won't touch it with a blaster. Don't worry about sanding sheet metal with an aggressive grit. A good primer will smooth out any sanding marks. The real issue is removing pitted rust, in my opinion.
lucky im pretty lucky on that, hardly any pitting. you can check out my pic on my last post "1950 gmc"
Nice, but... Your bed rails look pretty rusty. Now, sand them down and tell me if you see bright metal throughout. My guess is "no". My thought is this: Get abrasive, aggressive and use a prep of phosphoric acid on them to inhibit future rust. Check out this picture of my hood after using 3M abrasive pads on the first half. https://talk.classicparts.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=775&ppuser=5385
They are called 3M Heavy Duty Automotive Rust & Paint Strippers. I used the 4" diameter ones. They are available at Walmart for around $8. They fit into an electric drill or air tool. I also used a small wire wheel that fit into the air tool also.
LackaLackaLackaLacka.. ...LackaLackaLackaLacka (sounds of Zig's Kustom Body Shop) I just refurbished an alloy ' Bundt ' wheel off my old Mercedes Diesl Coupe , I should taken pix before and after , the differance is simply amazing , prep being the key .
Thanks, Nate! Lackalackalacka fits me just fine! Lacka knowledge, lacka time, lacka resources, lacka garage... But yes,, I dooo love that sound! It's much better than the sound of my drill and the metallic whirr of my 3M disk!
