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Just started stripping my 64. The color comes off pretty good, but won't remove the light gray primer,except a few spots where it bubbles up. The gel-coat appears under this primer. The car was repainted when I got it 25 years ago. Is this factory primer or the repaint? Should I sand this primer down to the gel-coat?I have a pretty good video on corvette painting ,but need some info on body prep. Anyone know of any good books or maybe archived messages? Thanks for any responses. Steve Whitaker (skin burning in central Ill)
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Re: Paint Stripping 64 no fun
First, there is no gelcoat. If it has any gelcoat, someone else has applied it. A 64 would typically have red oxide primer with a light coat of gray sealer. This sealer is sometimes does not exibit full coverage. -
Re: Paint Stripping 64 no fun
When I stripped the paint on my 68 and 70 I would let the stripper remove the color and them wash the body area with water. I water sanded by hand to remove the primer on each car.Comment
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Re: Paint Stripping 64 no fun
Steve,
When I stripped my '66, I let the remover take off the color, then washed the surface with water. After that, I wet sanded the red oxide primer. You will see the fiberglass strands embedded in the resin as the red oxide primer comes off. Take your time and don't get in a hurry.
Good luck - I agree that it's not a fun job.
PeteComment
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Re: Paint Stripping 64 no fun
Steve,
When removing the original paint on my 64 I used paint remover down to the gray sealer. I then used lacquer thinner and a scrub pad to remove the sealer and red oxide primer down to bare fiberglass. This procedure worked well but was a long tedious job. Good luck.
RodComment
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Re: Paint Stripping 64 no fun
Just completed stripping my '65 today. #1 Use rubber gloves!!!! #2 Powder hands before you put them on so you can get them off. #3. 3M sells paint stripping scuff pads. Go to hardware store and look in the paint stripping department. I belive there are 2 or 3 different styles. Some being more heavy duty than the others. I used the HEAVY DUTY one. 2 for $1 Buy 8 of them for $4. #4. If the temperature is too hot the stripper compound will evaporate before it has time to "eat" the paint. Work in the cool of the evening since it was 99 degrees here yesterday! #5. Vary the time the solution sits on the paint. I used 15 min to 20 min. #6 My stripper also ate the old body filler, altho it was slow.Comment
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Jack, What stripper did you use? *NM*
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Re: Jack, What stripper did you use?
Klean-Strip GFA-334 Formula A Auto Strip
Recommended by my body shop friend who has been at the Corvette restoration since 1959. By my doing the nasty stripping I save $. Takes no talent just "stick to it"! Get a small brush for cracks and crevices. Generally takes three applications for each section. I use a plastic scraper to remove the nasty stuff for the first two applications. On the third I use the 3M scuff or scruff pad to take it down to bare glass or brown primer. Work in the shade not direct sunlight. I used 3 gallons @ $25/gal. Actually have a 1/2 gallon left over but I still need to do the hardtop after I get the chrome off. The car was 70 percent original paint with 30 percent having been over sprayed as a result of some minor body work.Comment
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Re: Jack, What stripper did you use?
Just to add my two cents, I also used Kleen Strip and it worked great. I used masking tape to tape off all the cracks and creaveses to avoid getting the stripper in there. I also masked all the edges so that the stripper wouldnt get behind the panels. It was easy to sand off the remaing parts and I also stopped at the original primer and lightly hand sanded it off. It works great.Comment
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Soda blast
I had the body blasted with baking soda and it came out great. I don't know how many have tried this but would use it again. MikeComment
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Re: Soda blast
Althought I am done it would be nice if you would expand on this soda blasting. Where, cost, time involved and any other points of interest. I had considered this as an option but could not find anyone locally who was providing the service. What might be needed to do a Corvette. Air compressor and ????Comment
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Re: Soda blast
Jack, There are a few places in my area that do soda blasting. I'm in Niagara Falls, Canada. I used a company that had been around for a few years and had been doing mostly boats and old cars. It took 4 1/2 hours labour to do the body and 2 1/2 hours to do the doors, rear panel and hood.They charged $120 cdn per hour. The only down side is the cost but I'm sure its going to save me in the prep stage for painting. Hope this helps MikeComment
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