Looking for strippers that DON'T work on Zolatone

[InsideOut]

Here it is...my first question with regards to our new project!

I know a lot of folks have tried to strip down to the bare aluminum panels in their vintage trailers and had a heck of a time removing the Zolotone. I know what does work (Kleen Strip Aircraft Stripper) what I want to know is what DOESN'T.

I am looking for strippers that DON'T work on Zolotone. What I am hoping to do is remove the latex paint and leave the Zolotone below...any suggestions?

I'm anxious to get started...

Shari

[Fyrzowt]

strippers that DON'T work on Zolotone

I don't know, I don't hang out in those types of joints...

[InsideOut]

Originally Posted by 65GT

Colin H. mentioned the exact one that works on household paint but WON'T attack Zolatone on the VAList within the last two weeks. I delete mine, thought I had made note of what it is, and now can't find it. I need it too!

I got all the white household paint off by peeling it. I can get the green off by scrubbing, but I'm ready to go the stripper route too.

I've written Colin at two different email addresses, but nothing back yet...

__

Thanks Leo...I recall seeing that too, but I wasn't even considering a second trailer, let alone this project as recently as 7 days ago so I deleted it without even reading it...arrrgh!! If I only knew then what I know now...who knew???

Let me know if you get a reply...

Shari
Nah...I'm not implusive!

[47WeeWind]

Originally Posted by 65GT

Colin H. mentioned the exact one that works on household paint but WON'T attack Zolatone on the VAList within the last two weeks. I delete mine, thought I had made note of what it is, and now can't find it. I need it too!

Shari & Leo: Some of us are packrats, even with electrons. Here is Colin's post on the VAC List:

Q: my 57 has been painted with housepaint on the interior. The Zolotone is underneath. In the front and back section I wanted to take it to the aluminum like I seen done before. I have tried the entire range of chemical removers (I think). They just make it upset. Thanks, Marc

A: Hi Marc: We need to remove house paint jobs in Airstream's quite often. If your trailer is gutted, try a pressure washer. This process works quite well for us. Also, the strongest paint stripper we've found is "Aircraft Stripper" which we buy through our local Auto Body paint supplier. If you want to remove the house paint & leave the original Zolatone, try Hydrostrip 502 made by ICI (also called "Napier" stripper available through Vintage Trailer Supply - Vintage travel trailer parts and supplies! ) It also removes exterior clearcoat really well.

Have fun,
Colin Hyde
GSM Vehicles Inc
WBCCI, VAC 1936
theVAP - The Vintage Airstream Podcast - Home

[InsideOut]

Fred - I should have figured you would have the answer buried somewhere in your stack of knowledge! Thanks...however, Mr.InsideOut called & spoke with an ICI rep this morning and he thought all the products they have locally would strip the Zolotone too. We'll heve to see if they carry the "502 Hydrostrip" specifically...

I also have an email into the Napier Environmental folks requesting their suggested RemovAll product for the job(s) at hand. Waiting on a reply...I spoke with Michelle but she to needed to check with her technical experts and asked me to send the specific conditions of which I have three:

Condition #1: Interior aluminum panels with existing Zolotone and latex paint overtop
Goal: To strip the latex paint but leave the Zolotone

Condition #2: Interior wood panels with existing Zolotone and latex paint overtop
Goal: To strip the latex paint but leave the Zolotone

Condition #3: Interior wood panels with shellac/varnish finish and latex paint overtop
Goal: To strip the latex paint but leave the shellac/varnish

You've seen it, can you think of any other conditions I have? Anyway, I'll post my findings...

Leo - I know, it's verry sad isn't it!? Don't rub it in!

Shari

[InsideOut]

Ah ha! Came up with another idea...we are contacting Zolatone to see what they would recommend...

SHari

[InsideOut]

...The folks at Zolatone were not very helpful, they want to sell more Zolatone! (duh!) They just said to re-Zolatone over the latex...

They did say the formula in the 40's was one thing (like an epoxy/varnish), in the 50's it was oil based and most today is water based acrylic. So if I can find a stripper which will just go after water based latex and not the oil-based paints...I should be okay.

We haven't dismissed the possibility that we will be re-Zolatoning the walls and using the existing cabinets as templates...just trying to avoid unneeded effort & expense, if possible, by stripping.

The quest continues ~

Shari

[john hd]

how about blasting it off with compressed air and baking soda? no fumes.

john

[john hd]

just googled "baking soda blasting" and came up with this Soda Blasting Article

john

[Jacob D.]

"3M Safest Stripper" does work on Zolatone, if rather slowly, just for the record. But it'll ruin the textured finish in an hour or so, I'm using it around rivets.

This thread made me laugh (sympathetically!) since I'm currently sanding Zolatone to repaint with conventional paint. I can imagine liking the Zolatone if it wasn't such a truly hideous colour (and badly-worn & stained too).

[InsideOut]

Originally Posted by Jacob D.

I can imagine liking the Zolatone if it wasn't such a truly hideous colour (and badly-worn & stained too).

I also have a '64...the Zolatone on the '56 is much nicer than the '64 color/pattern. It has bigger flecks and more distinct colors.

John, I think the sandblasting would get at the Zolatone too...if not everywhere enough that it wouldn't be okay "as is" afterwards without a re-coat, which we are trying to avoid but we may end up doing anyways. Thanks for the idea though ~

So if I can find a stripper which will just go after water based latex and not the oil-based paints...I should be okay.

Keep 'em coming!

Shari

[Melody Ranch]

This is what I had in mind. naughty, naughty.

[flyfshr]

This is what I had in mind. naughty, naughty.

I like your thinking.

When we redid our interior, we originally wanted to go down to the aluminum and with four coats of paint plus the Zolotone, we could barely see any interior rivets. We used Aircraft Stripper and it seemed to need one application per layer of paint except for the top layer of latex which only would come off with the CitriStrip. Then it came off in strings. Ugggg! What a mess and it was only the beginning.

Brad
FF

[InsideOut]

Come on guys...get your minds out of the gutter!

Shari

[InsideOut]

So, after you all gave me a bad time about the title of this thread...I'm not sure I want to revive it. However, I did find a stripper that works on latex paint and leaves the Zolatone alone...Motsenbocker's Lift Off #5. It actually works very well...I'll post some pictures later this evening of the test patches I tried - it works great on latex paint.

The problem I have is about 50% of the paint I am trying to remove has a "glaze" over the latex paint (very uneven yellowed patches) andthe Lift Off #5 unfortunately doesn't get through the glaze...but the areas with latex only - it's awesome! I may try one of the other 3's that's more for paint & varnish...although I'm afraid they will eat the Zolatone too - we'll see.

Shari

[Airhog1]

I didn't think that was legal in Texas!

G

[InsideOut]

Thanks Leo...let me know how it goes, I have lots & lots of stripping to do, I'm still looking for suggestions. Somehow I'm having a hard time rationalizing the cost Napier stripper plus shipping, not knowing if it's going to work for what I want. Let me know if you have success ~

Shari

[oh2bcarefree]

Hi Sheri,

I have a question about Mostenbockers #5 for Latex. I see that you have recommended it in another thread too and wondered how extensively you ended up using it. Our zolatone is painted with latex which is either flat or an eggshell finish at most (yay!) Based on your recommendation, I picked up a spray bottle at the local DIY store. I tried it in two spots in the closet as a test and it worked awesome.

My question - how agressive can you be after spraying on and letting it work for a minute or so? Does a scrubby pad or other paint stripping texturized sponges work OK or do you need to be more gentle with the zolatone finish? I tried a paint remover "sponge thing" similar to a green scrubby pad and it didn't seem to damage the zolatone, but again, it was about a 12 x 12 area that I did. I think this is a project for the upcoming winter, but I'm so excited at how well it worked, that I'm dying to know.

Thanks for your advice in advance!! If you have this in one of your other threads, I apologize for missing it.

Tina

[InsideOut]

Tina ~ Sorry I missed this question

I'm sure you have answered it yourself by now, but as you know, we ended up changing directions and stripping our trailer down to the ribs, replacing some aluminum panels & re-Zolotoning the whole thing. However, I would say that Mostenbocker #5 worked well - but I wouldn't want to go that route on an entire trailer - re Zolotoning is so much easier! An end cap or partially painted one would be enough work. I also wouldn't use too much pressure with a scrubby pad because it will abrade through the Zolotone. I used as little pressure as I could to still be effective and let the product do the work.

Shari