Strip 'n Polish Project Thread ( lots of great tips and links)

Ferroequine · 05-07-2005, 10:21 PM

Well, since it is finally somewhat nice outside , I thought I'd try out a test section of stripping the trailer. Over the next few weeks & months, I'll be stripping and then polishing our 1975 Safari. I'll keep updating this thread also.

It is a continuation of this thread, where I struggled with what to do with the exterior. Many thanks to all those people who helped on that thread.

I bought 4 gallons of Napier Removeall 220. It is fairly thick (like paint), and you brush it on. We left it sitting on the door for about 1 1/2 hours, and then we just hosed the paint off with the garden spray nozzle. The nice thing is that it doesn't appear to hurt the grass, since there is no solvent involved, and there was no smell. The water deactivates the catalyst (which I believe is Peroxide based), and all the stripped clearcoat ends up dripping onto the ground with the water.

Another nice surprise was that we 'painted' the Removeall 220 right over the pinstriping, and it didn't affect it at all!

Ferroequine · 05-10-2005, 10:03 AM

I tried the lower section of the door last night, to see how it would work. I didn't have any wool compounding bonnets yet, so I quickly cyclo'd it with the medium grade Nuvite. It turned out great for 5 minutes of work. I can't wait to get started this Saturday, barring any poor weather!

balrgn · 05-10-2005, 10:48 AM

Very Nice>>!!!<< Currently working on my 75 Trade Wind 1/2 done the first pass. Looks great too!

Safari Tim · 05-10-2005, 11:02 AM

Looking good. You're on your way!

I'm about 2/3 done with my yearly cycloing and wax job...

Swanny · 05-12-2005, 09:17 PM

I bought 4 gallons of Napier Removeall 220. It is fairly thick (like paint), and you brush it on. We left it sitting on the door for about 1 1/2 hours, and then we just hosed the paint off with the garden spray nozzle. The nice thing is that it doesn't appear to hurt the grass, since there is no solvent involved, and there was no smell. The water deactivates the catalyst (which I believe is Peroxide based), and all the stripped clearcoat ends up dripping onto the ground with the water.

Your project is looking great. I've got a 31 ft Excella 500 that I'm debating on stripping and your thread caught my attention. If I read you correctly, this stripper was a 'brush on' style and you simply washed it off. How much scraping did you have to do after washing the area? Also, where did you get the Removeall 220?

Thanks again since I want to have my ducks in a row before trying to tackle this job.

bake315 · 05-12-2005, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swanny

Your project is looking great. I've got a 31 ft Excella 500 that I'm debating on stripping and your thread caught my attention. If I read you correctly, this stripper was a 'brush on' style and you simply washed it off. How much scraping did you have to do after washing the area? Also, where did you get the Removeall 220?

Thanks again since I want to have my ducks in a row before trying to tackle this job.

Swanny -

ICI Paints carries this as Hydrostrip 502 - same product as the Napier under a different name. The ICI dealer in Round Rock had it in stock. I'm sure there would be an ICI dealer down your way.

balrgn · 05-13-2005, 05:10 AM

You might want to consider using Por Remover /Stripper For my 1975 25' I uses less than 1 1/2 gallons. Spray it on (they give you a bottle) and wait 30 or so seconds and scrape it off with a plastic scraper. It is unreal how fast it works. Second application, to get what stays stuck I used scotch brite.
Just a thought...

Ferroequine · 05-13-2005, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swanny

Your project is looking great. I've got a 31 ft Excella 500 that I'm debating on stripping and your thread caught my attention. If I read you correctly, this stripper was a 'brush on' style and you simply washed it off. How much scraping did you have to do after washing the area? Also, where did you get the Removeall 220?

Thanks again since I want to have my ducks in a row before trying to tackle this job.

Swanny,

I pretty much had to do no scraping at all. There were a couple of spots where I hadn't covered the skin properly, so it didn't strip everything there, but that was more my fault. A bit of a wipe with a rag over the whole door, and she was ready to go. I couldn't believe how easy it was.

It makes the $50/gal price worth it.

Swanny · 05-13-2005, 10:38 PM

Thanks to everyone for the great tips. I think I'm sold on going with the polishing route. On another note, this model of AS has a 5-6" wide blue stripe all the way around it. When I rub my fingers across it, it feels like vinyl.

Any idea of what this material is and how do you suggest treating it? My hunch was to use Armorall or something of that nature. Thanks again for all of your tips.

Mitch

Ferroequine · 05-15-2005, 11:27 AM

I did some more stripping yesterday. Did the entire endcap, and one of the sides. This is sure an interesting stripper. You leave it on for a couple of hours after painting it on thick. Then from a distance it looks like it's dry, but if you look really close, you can see it crystalizing.

Hosing it off afterwards is fairly easy. However, a pressure washer would be nice to have.

Safari Tim · 05-15-2005, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ferroequine

I did some more stripping yesterday. Did the entire endcap, and one of the sides. This is sure an interesting stripper. You leave it on for a couple of hours after painting it on thick. Then from a distance it looks like it's dry, but if you look really close, you can see it crystalizing.

Hosing it off afterwards is fairly easy. However, a pressure washer would be nice to have.

I don't know what stripper your using, but I don't think your supposed to leave it on that long. Probably 10-15 minutes is enough.

balrgn · 05-15-2005, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Safari Tim

I don't know what stripper your using, but I don't think your supposed to leave it on that long. Probably 10-15 minutes is enough.

That does seem long? The stuff I used was spray on after 30 seconds wipe off. took less than 3 hours to do the whole unit... (1 1/2 gallons did the trick)
Do think the metal may be etched?

Ferroequine · 05-15-2005, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Safari Tim

I don't know what stripper your using, but I don't think your supposed to leave it on that long. Probably 10-15 minutes is enough.

The stripper is Peroxide based, and not a solvent. Boeing approves the product as well for all of their planes. Tom @ Perfect polish said to leave it for a couple of hours, although I have found an hour to be enough. Some guys with airplanes apparantly leave it on for up to 4 hours.

It didn't etch any of the side panels as far as I can tell.

Ferroequine · 05-15-2005, 08:43 PM

Re: the picture above with the crystalizing -- it hosed right off and came out with nice clean, smooth aluminum.