Recommendations for Wheels for Angle Grinder Paint Stripping

[Maui]

I am in the process of stripping the paint and rust from the surface of a 1950s Delta Unisaw cabinet. I have the machine completely apart and am ready to go to work. I will be using a 4 1/2" angle grinder to accomplish this. Normally I use a braided wire wheel for this type of work, but this cabinet has a LOT of surface area. Is there a flap disc or other type of wheel that someone here has used for this type of work that I could pick up at, say, Harbor Freight for example that would be a better choice and make this job less onerous? Just looking to make this a little easier on myself if possible. Please do not bring up chemical paint strippers, since I will NOT be using any of those. Thanks.

 

[PCustoms]

Prep and strip discs

Difficult (though not impossible) to mess up the underlying metal, and won't load up with paint

 

[Maui]

Thanks PCustoms. I'll see if I can locate some. I'll look at Harbor Freight first. If they don't carry them, do you have recommendations on where those can be purchased?

 

[PCustoms]

Thanks PCustoms. I'll see if I can locate some. I'll look at Harbor Freight first. If they don't carry them, do you have recommendations on where those can be purchased?

Life's to short for crappy disposables.

I usually order the 3M version from Amazon. I think benchmark abrasives might carry them too, I've had good luck with everything they sell

Home depot has them on the shelf too, but pricey.

 

[FrankLee]

I bought these. One disk did a quick job of stripping two layers of repaint on this bench stand. The disk is still usable.

Amazon.com

 

[four.cycle]

Good question, and I'm about to find out the answer.
Just got back from Harbor Freight. Another man was standing in the same aisle and I told him what I was doing and he said go for that "sponge" looking thing on the end of a drill motor. (bottom center). I didn't remember that I already owned one that fits on my angle grinder (center left). He also recommended that huge red wire-wheel thing (center right.)
I also picked up the flap discs (lower center) because I have used those before for cleaning up lawnmower decks and they work super - but they do not leave you with a smooth finish - you end up with grind marks all over.

 

[PCustoms]

Good question, and I'm about to find out the answer.
Just got back from Harbor Freight. Another man was standing in the same aisle and I told him what I was doing and he said go for that "sponge" looking thing on the end of a drill motor. (bottom center). I didn't remember that I already owned one that fits on my angle grinder (center left). He also recommended that huge red wire-wheel thing (center right.)
I also picked up the flap discs (lower center) because I have used those before for cleaning up lawnmower decks and they work super - but they do not leave you with a smooth finish - you end up with grind marks all over.

Where glasses and a shield, plus heavy clothing, using those wires brushes.

Again, not a place to buy harbor freight IMHO

 

[PoorUB]

I would chemical strip, then clean up the rest.

 

[Maui]

Let us know how well or how poorly they work fourcycle.

 

[PCustoms]

I would chemical strip, then clean up the rest.

 

[VolksWomble]

The paint and rust removal discs (sponge looking ones) are the way to go. just Be careful of edges and be wary of the direction of rotation, as even a small burr or corner quickly wears the disc material down.

 

[PoorUB]

I can, I just didn't!

 

[Jswain]

Since when did GJ care about what the OP actually wants/needs?

 

[Maui]

I would chemical strip, then clean up the rest.

Of course you would. Your wife must laugh all day long...

 

[four.cycle]

Again, not a place to buy harbor freight IMHO

You will get no argument from me on that point, but: they're close (3.2 miles), far cheaper than anyone else, and this is for an item I intend to sell, so absolute minimal investment in time and materials is essential.

The "sponge" thing works great for removing multiple layers of silver and gray spray paint. There were at least four or five coats of paint on this box. I got most of the outside and the bottom of the inside with one "sponge" disc from HF, by which time it was fairly shredded and was no longer effective. I did the outside bottom with a flap disc, because it had some sort of gooey paint on it that loaded up the "sponge" thing - like spray-on undercoat maybe? :
I was short on daylight by the time I finally got to the thing, and the one (sponge) disc and the flap disc (on the bottom) were all I used. This is the result of about 45 minutes of work:

 

[rdoty]

Just get a box of five or ten strip disks from Amazon or your other favorite online place. I ended up using BHA Easy Strip disks at $35 for a five pack. Needed two boxes to take a 1963 Imperial down to bare metal. Slow process and gets a heavy coating of dust EVERYWHERE.

The strip disks do a great job of taking off paint, bondo and rust without damaging the surface of steel. But they are fairly slow - think in terms of square inches per minute, not square feet per minute. Or it could just be that I'm slow...

One thing is critical: Wear a dust mask! I used an N95 mask for the whole job. Eye protection is also a good idea.