Zolotone Removal

[garp]

I would like to remove the Zolotone paint from the interior walls of my '64 Bambi II. The walls are aluminum and the paint is not looking too good. I like the look of polished interiors but need some help getting started removing the existing paint. Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Bob

[oldvws]

can you use an electrc heat gun (high power hair dryer) ?

[InsideOut]

Zolatone is actually a paint-like product...I don't think a heat gun will do anything to remove it. That would work better on a vinyl wallcovering...

Here is a link to a post in Tom Patterson's VAC Archive that describes one person's Zolatone removal method. Personally, it sounds like way too much work for me! I'd re-Zolatone over the old.

You may also want to contact the Zolatone manufacturer to see if they recommend a particular stripper. Here's another link, this one to the Zolatone website to find a distributor in your area who could probably help.

Good luck in whatever you decide to do ~

Shari

[garp]

Thanks Shari, I checked out Tom Patterson's link and will try some experimenting. I wrote to Zolatone about 6 months ago but never heard back. I figure they don't want to encourage people to remove their product
Bob

[flyfshr]

The only product we found to do any kind of damage to Zolotone was a product called Aircraft Stripper. It is NASTY stuff. Comes in gallon cans and clearly states that it doesn't meet federal regualtions. Took two applications of stripper to take off the Zolotone. This stuff is so nasty, that you are to squeeze a lemon or lime in your eye if you get it in one of them. Wear long sleeves, goggles, a hat and long thick rubber gloves. We found the stripper at a place that caters to the automotive finishers in south Phoenix.

After removing the Zolotone in the front, we found that the interior would be way too busy, looked like a funhouse mirror. So we ended up painting after all. Check out the picture. That's without polishing.

Brad

[flyfshr]

Oh, one more thing...
The installers at the factory scribed in the interior aluminum panels to indicate where to put rivets in to the vertical frame members. The scribe went the whole width of the panels in most places between the trailer's endcaps. Guess they figured the Zolotone would hide it, which it did. Seems to be too deep to buff out. Something to consider if you want to polish the interior. Also, make sure you have aluminum endcaps and not the one-piece plastic ones. They won't buff up too well

Brad

[InsideOut]

flyfshr ~

I know what you mean about the Aircraft Stripper! I used it to strip our outside clearcoat...nasty stuff, but it worked! I thought it might work on Zolatone, but wasn't sure, as I kept my Zolatone intact...thanks for the clarification.

Shari

BTW 'garp' ~ Our '64 has the plastic end caps...yours, probably does too.

[flyfshr]

Shari ~
We have the aluminum end caps, clearly seen in the above photo. I insisted on metal as the plastic would become brittle in our lovely summers and I didn't want ot have to replace one

Brad

[InsideOut]

flyfshr ~

It's clear that your end caps are aluminum...my comment regarding ours being plastic was more for 'garp' as his is a '64 like Maxwell. Anyway, good thinking with the AZ heat the aluminum is probably a better choice for you. I do like the look of the aluminum panels (better than the plastic) with all the rivets...but I'd still leave it Zolatone'd.

Do you know what year A/S switched from aluminum to plastic? I'm thinking it was probably '64 when they went from 7 to 5 panels on the exterior...anybody???

Shari

[flyfshr]

Found a picture of the can. Be forewarned...this stuff is nasty.

Brad

[Pahaska]

We use the aircraft stripper on the aluminum wings of our Schweizer 2-33 gliders on paint that has been baked on by 15 to 20 years of Texas sun. It does the job, but it is truly nasty to work with.

I wear heavy rubber gloves meant for handling corrosive liquids and either goggles or a face shield. I also wear old clothes with long sleeves and just throw them away when I'm finished.