Pain, paint and more paint!!!!!!!!!!

[mudson]

Some dumb dumb painted my 1990 thompson with what appears to be house paint, and I am struggling to get it off. so far I've tried paint stripper, finishing sander with 60 grit, orbital sander with 60 grit, power washer with paint stripper attachment and heat gun and scrapper. I have very little time to work on the boat and I think I've screwed around long enough.

any thoughts someone has would be much much appreciated thank you

 

[BigBoatinOkie]

Re: Pain, paint and more paint!!!!!!!!!!

have you tried aircraft stripper? I've had good luck with it even with industrial paints. Comes in an aerosol can. If it can withstand all of the abuse you've put it through, you could just scuff it up and paint over it.

 

[ajgraz]

Re: Pain, paint and more paint!!!!!!!!!!

What kind (brand, active ingredients) of paint stripper? Fiberglass or aluminum boat?

Here's the secret concoction I came up with to strip paint off my fiberglass project hull:

50:50 mix of Jasco "premium paint and epoxy stripper" : lacquer thinner

The Jasco is all methylene chloride in a thickened alcohol base, the lacquer thinner is a mix of acetone, toluene, alcohol, etc...carb cleaner would work instead. I know it's said not to use methylene chloride on fiberglass/gel coat, but it's the ingredient that quickly does the job on paint. The lacquer thinner thins the concoction a bit and perhaps may make the MeC a bit less "harmful" through dilution

Anyway, you mix that up real good, brush paint it on, wait 2-3 minutes, then scrape with a plastic scraper. I find it to scrape the paint off in big strips, right down to the gel coat, effortlessly. I then wipe down the area with soapy water and dry paper towels, so that there is no residual MeC to (perhaps) eat up the gel coat / fiberglass.

Using this method, I'm able to strip about 3 sq ft in less than 10-15 minutes. Very nice, and much faster and less effort than sanding or wire brushing.

I do not know if methylene chloride and aluminum have problems, but I have slopped some of my concoction on the aluminum rubrail frame with no apparent ill effects.

EDIT: buy a few extra plastic scrapers...the MeC will soften/eat the plastic over time

EDIT 2: wear rubber gloves, MeC on skin equals pain.

 

[Isaacm1986]

Re: Pain, paint and more paint!!!!!!!!!!

Are you sure it is house paint if it is that hard to get off? Seems like a normal latex house paint would not adhere to fiberglass very well.

I agree with the aircraft stripper, that stuff works awesome!

 

[ajgraz]

Re: Pain, paint and more paint!!!!!!!!!!

HA! Look up the Klean-Strip brand aircraft stripper MSDS sheets:

http://www.wmbarr.com/msds.aspx?catid=13

The "regular" stuff is just methylene chloride in alcohol, the "for fiberglass" stuff is the "regular" stuff cut about 50:50 with toluene/acetone.

I knew I was on to something! I'd say either my mixture or the "for fiberglass" aircraft stripper ought to do you right.

 

[MountaineerMiner]

Re: Pain, paint and more paint!!!!!!!!!!

I like the aircraft remover as well, but I get the kind in a gallon can, availble in most autoparts stores

As a last resort, in a small area, maybe try lye drain cleaner disolved in water, ive used Red Devil brand you can get at any grocery store. I havent found a metal part this wont take paint/anodizing/galvinizing off of yet, never tried it on fiberglass though. where gloves for this one, its nasty!!!

 

[mudson]

Re: Pain, paint and more paint!!!!!!!!!!

thanks guys.

I think I'll try that aircraft stuff next

I was also considering using a grinder but a little nervous about that.

 

[mudson]

Re: Pain, paint and more paint!!!!!!!!!!

aircraft stuff works pretty good.

very nasty stuff though

 

[BigBoatinOkie]

Re: Pain, paint and more paint!!!!!!!!!!

Sir......Put down the grinder and back away slowly!!!

Edit: Try not to get that aircraft stripper on your skin. Burns like the dickens if you don't get it off quickly. It'll strip human flesh too.

 

[mudson]

Re: Pain, paint and more paint!!!!!!!!!!

yeah I found thatout the hard way EEEEOUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[BigBoatinOkie]

Re: Pain, paint and more paint!!!!!!!!!!

Ooops. I guess I shoulda warned you earlier. You would've learned the hard way anyway though wouldn't you.