Removing paint from Metal

[jbmorrey]

So my original thought to get a sandblaster setup to take old toolboxes down to bare metal was dashed due to lack of funds to buy the necessary equipment. So I am now looking at stripping down to metal. I was told Rustoleum Automotive Aircraft Remover can be used to remove paint from metal. But what kind of impact does it have on surface rust? would I still need to "prep" it by sanding down all of the surface rust? I just don't know what that stripper will do to rust!! I have experience with stripper but only on old furniture removing stain and vanish. Thank you so much for your inputs thoughts and suggestions.

Sincerely,
James M

 

[ZRX61]

Stripper doesn't do anything to rust.. & with some old boxes the paint will instantly wipe right off with lacquer thinner.
I've removed rust with a DA sander & then buzzed it with 3in scotchbrite roloc discs. Metal came out like new.

 

[ZRX61]

Here's one I did last year:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=142494&highlight=Model+Kennedy

 

[jbmorrey]

ZRX61,
OK so forgive me being slightly dumb to this but you lost me at "DA sander & then buzzed it with 3in scotchbrite roloc discs" could you be a little more descriptive! your Kennedy turned out great and I would like to get the same results on a couple of my boxes that I need to work on.

Thanks,
James M

 

[Turfbassett]

Get it chemically di

 

[zkling]

I personally like electrolysis. Works on rust and paint. For sheet metal it is my favorite. Cheap, easy, safe, but slow.

Media blasting can be difficult without warping sheet metal

Strong chemical dipping is good, but you must becareful that all of the solution is removed from the nooks and cranies otherwise you may have issues down the road.

Chemical brush on (Aircraft stripper) is good, but won't remove rust, and can be dangerous to you and the environment.

For really small parts I usually use brush on stripper. For everything else that is rusty (98% of what I buy, ha ha) gets a bath in the electrolysis barrel.

 

[ZRX61]

ZRX61,
OK so forgive me being slightly dumb to this but you lost me at "DA sander & then buzzed it with 3in scotchbrite roloc discs" could you be a little more descriptive! your Kennedy turned out great and I would like to get the same results on a couple of my boxes that I need to work on.

Thanks,
James M

I used the DA sander with #220 grit (6in, sticky) discs which removed all the paint & most of the rust. Then I lightly used the 3M Scotchbrite (3in, medium/red*) discs on a die grinder to get it REALLY clean.

* they call them red, but they are actually more dark burgundy.

 

[HTGTS350]

In my experience electrolysis doesn't go so well with paint.

 

[softailgarage]

Personally, I dont like using chemicals. Get an air compressor angle die grinder and use roloc pads. Its more physical labor but your not breathin fumes, ruining clothes or dealing with chemical burns or polluting the Earth with the waste.