Help Please: Clear Coat Stripper

[KeyWest]

This topic probably has been covered. Just a newbie.

Is there an alternative effective stripper than the $200 (5-gallon) stripper that I've found on vintage trailer website?

Thank you!

North Padre Islander
TX

[Bob662]

Aircraft stripper is very good and often used for your application. Google Aircraft Spruce as one source and check its pricing.

[madpiper]

I also found that aircraft stripper works fine and purchased it on Amazon.com.

[AlinCal]

Citristrip work good for me.

[A W Warn]

Citristrip worked fine for me. I chose it because it is environmentally friendly, and me friendly.
What I did:
One thick coat in small area, wait till the clear coat wrinkles. Recoat dry spots while waiting because it dries fast in low humidity. Scrape with plastic putty knife, then touch up with a second coat as needed, use a plastic scrub pad on hard spots, then wipe off with wet paper towels. Wipe down with mineral spirits. Done!

[TheGreatleys]

I used aircraft stripper. Bought it at the local chain auto parts store. Followed by a spray from my pressure washer. (N.b. You probably don't want to use a real pressure washer for this, mine is a rinky-dink electric model.)

Careful, the stuff melts right through 8 mil nitrile gloves.

If I were doing it again, I'd try citristrip first. Available at your local hardware store, and far less nasty than aircraft stripper.

[KeyWest]

Thanks very much for the recommendations!

For a 26' Safari, about how much aircraft stripper?

[mimiandrews]

For a 26' Safari, about how much aircraft stripper?

If your source is local, like the auto parts store, you could buy it a gallon at a time. It's far preferable to work small areas rather than to try to strip the whole trailer at once. I did a section four or five feet wide by the height of the trailer wall, let the stripper work, and then rinsed it off with a water hose with a good pressure nozzle, paying special attention to the riveted seams. Then, I went over the area with a car wash brush with water running through it.

Then, I went to the other side of the trailer where it was still dry and did another section. Water neutralizes the stripper, so you can't work where it's wet.

Cool weather and shade are good, because you don't want the stripper to dry out.

We did our trailer in August in North Texas, so early morning was the only time we had cool temps and shade to work. Two or three sections stripped each morning worked for the climate and season. This time of year you should have better conditions.

For goodness sake protect yourself. Long sleeves of thick fabric. Good, long gloves. Most important, excellent eye protection. Have water immediately available for when you do get some stripper on you. It stings like the devil on the skin, and I don't want to think what it could do to the eyes.

The improvement in the appearance of the trailer is worth the effort. Good luck.

[TheGreatleys]

Originally Posted by KeyWest

Thanks very much for the recommendations!

For a 26' Safari, about how much aircraft stripper?

I started with a gallon for my 27 Overlander. Bought two more quarts before I was finished. Had some left over that I used to strip my screen frames.

[Wanderer2604]

I used furniture stripper on my 1997 25' Safari. I bought it at a hardware store or Walmart. Can't remember. I do remember that I used 2 gallons. It's cheap and worked well.