Best Sand Paper and/or Chem strip

[Blown&Injected]

There are some areas that need to go to the metal due to checked paint: roof (T-Top car), trunk lid, left quarter panel - the sun hits those panels hard!

The other parts don't look to bad so I was planing on just going until I get to primer then stopping. Thinking about using about 120 grit until I see primer - then stopping.

So For just those few checked panels, would you recommend a chem stripper or just sand.

I was thinking about using 80 grit until I begin to see metal thru the primer then move to about 150.

Any recommendations to my ideas, types and grades of paper - Oh yeah, I will be getting a DA sander to do this - any thoughts on air sanders appreciated too.

TIA

 

[Red Regal T]

IF YOU WANT TO PAY $24 A GALLON GET AIRCRAFT STRIPPER. LIKE ALL AUTOMOTIVE PAINT SUPPLIES, THEY ARE OBSCENELY OVERPRICED. I'VE USED AIRCRAFT STRIPPER..........THE STUFF FROM WALMART WORKS JUST AS GOOD AND COSTS CLOSER TO $15 A GALLON. PROVES MY POINT.

GET YOURSELF THE COARSEST STEEL WOOL YOU CAN GET. NO MEDIUM/COARSE.........COARSE. GET A COUPLE GALLONS OF LACQUER THINNER AND SOME RUBBER GLOVES AND A LOT OF CLEAN RAGS. YOU'LL ALSO NEED A BOX OF RAZOR BLADES. COST ABOUT $5 A HUNDRED AT AUTO PAINT SUPPLY. YOU ALSO NEED A SCRAPER THAT YOU CAN INSERT THE RAZOR BLADES IN.

AFTER STRIPPING, TO GET THE REMAINING PAINT OFF, USE THE COARSE STEEL WOOL, STRIPPER AND THINNER TO "SCRUB" REMAINING PAINT OFF. THEN CLEAN THE BARE METAL WITH CLEAN RAGS SOAKED WITH LACQUER THINNER. YOU CAN USE A METAL PREP BEFORE PRIMERING. I USUALLY SKIP THE METAL PREP. THAT'S UP TO YOU.

DON'T WAIT FOR THE WINTER TO DO IT. THE WARMER IT IS, THE FASTER THE STRIPPER WORKS. HAVE FUN!

 

[Blown&Injected]

Thanks John.

About the metal prep - the stuff seems to be like and do the same thing as lacquer thinner. - But then these are the type of things I really wish to learn about, my experience in these matters is limited.

However, even in areas were I have experience, I sometimes fail to learn all that is possible - I have ordered thousands of dollars of sand paper and used lots of different types, read all about the different types, but still do not remember what types worked best. Went through several DA sanders and really did not notice much difference regardless of cost???

 

[John Larkin]

3M paper seems to cut longer. I've used Safetee-Kleen paper and it wears out real fast plus sticks to your pad like wet masking tape. Buy the big rolls (100 disk or so). You'll need it for an entire car. An inventory of 80-120-180-320 will give you everything you need.

And that new green painters tape is the way to go also. It never gets stuck down hard. This is a plus.

 

[Blown&Injected]

Good to know - thanks!

The guys in the shop seemed to like the sanding disks that were hard and firm. The backing of the roll are not as thick but seemed to work good for me - seemed to conform better to the part being sanded.

 

[gnkid1987]

I just finished stripping my car down to bare metal using aircraft quality strippes wich you can get at any body shop ( i used napa brand) it is messy but it does a great job. my car was re painted before i stripped it and withen 2 coats of striper it was down to the metal. it might cost more but its alot better. if your car has been painted i would reccomend using stripper becaue sandpaper can add up and if you have laquer paint on it then the paint will ball up on the paper wasting a lot of paper. if you strip your car get a bucket for all of the paint scraps. get a few bondo spreaders, razor blades,paint brush,coffe can, and chemical gloves. make sure that you take off the nose because that will have to be sanded off the car sepratley along with the,spoiler,spoiler ends,bumper fillers,and take off the wheel well moldings. i would recomend taking out the rear quater windows( I wrote a reply to a post about a week or so ago on how exatly how to do it) and make sure you dont get and stripper on you if you do wash it off quick it will burn you.
be sure not to get the stripper on any plastic or rubber it will met it

Good Luck
if you need any tips pm me

 

[Blown&Injected]

Thanks for the tips and procedures!

 

[Chuck Leeper]

Some info and source of supplies

try this site: http://www.autobodystore.com/ ;)