Stripping the VTS White Drip Caps

[Stevareeno]

Hi All,
We have purchased the Vintage Trailer Supply drip caps that come in white. The suggestion is to use a propane torch to burn away the paint and then a scotch pad to wipe it clean.

My first time using the propane torch and for whatever reason it doesn't seem to burn off the paint. Maybe it is the cheapo home depot regulator thing?
Wondering if anyone else has used this process with success.

Or is aircraft stripper also effective.

thanks !
Steve

[Bubba L]

Steve, we bought the same drip caps from VTS with the white paint. I used Aircraft Stripper to cut the majority, then Citristrip to clean it up. Lastly I used the cheap Harbor Freight side grinder with a sewn wheel to polish it to the mirror shine. The side grinder idea for window frames and trim came from MATTB. Good luck

[Stevareeno]

Going to try all that you have suggested and glad to hear the aircraft stripper worked. Have to order that anyway to strip the airstream.
Much appreciated.
Steve

[Bubba L]

O’REILLYS carries Aircraft Stripper in the gallon size. I sure wouldn’t get more than you need. Once it’s exposed to air, it tends to deteriorate the can. Nasty stuff.

[Hittenstiehl]

Steve we also just stripped the paint off the drip cap and it did work as we saw the video on VTS.

We used a small hand held Benzomatic torch TS4000 and laid the drip cap on some rocked landscape area.

We just patiently kept heating it and watched it change colors then heated it a bit more.

We didn't pick it up, as we didn't want to distort the shape of it, until it cooled off. We green pad scrubbed it till the white ash came off. Our green pad was not the soft bumpy kind with a sponge attached to it for dishes. We used a mote aggressive thin green pad that you might use more in a more abrasive manner.

[Stevareeno]

OK so i tried the aircraft paint stripper from O'Reilly's and that was an epic fail Didn't even budge the powder coat after 2 thick passes. Eventually all the gunk wiped off clean back to the shiny white caps. I painted one metallic silver and it was so so. looked kind of cheap.

So I'm going to order a better torch nozzle, and it looks like there is propane that burns "hotter" also. The yellow container. Did you use the blue or the yellow one? Thanks

[Stevareeno]

So sure enough, the Bernzomatic TS4000 did the job like the VTS video.
Wow, the hours of frustration with a "normal" $13 propane nozzle and attempted paint stripper on these painted caps.

Link to our blog with a pic.
https://www.airforums.com/forums/f36...-202730-4.html

thanks all for your help !!

[Hittenstiehl]

Thanks so much for coming back and giving us an update so glad it worked for you.