1972 Starcraft - Advice on removing paint

[BOAH]

I have a 72 Starcraft that I use primarily for fishing. It's been heavily modified and has a diamond plate floor. Unfortunately it was not painted well and I would like to strip the paint. I'm considering one of those scotch brite wheels with a vacuum attachment or just using paint stripper. I'm going to start with the inside of the boat first but will eventually do the exterior as well. I'm leaning towards a paint stripper but have never used it. Looking for advice on the best way to go about this.

Thanks for your help.

 

[BOAH]

After doing some research, I'm leaning towards the rustoleum Aircraft removal stripper. I don't know how caustic this stuff is to work with but I'm going to apply and then scrape it. So hopefully I'll be able to catch most of it before I power wash it. If you know of another product that works and isn't too rough to work with, please let me know.

 

[oldrem]

Very good product - just wear rubber gloves and safety glasses. I use a pair of heavy long sleeved gloves.

 

[zool]

Aircraft stripper works good, just be careful with it around seams and rivets, it has a tendency to leach out later and take the edge of ur new paint/primer.

 

[FIGMO]

Hi Boah,

I just finished stripping my boat, however I am in Canada and we have limited access to some of the better strippers.

I posted some pics of what I used. Here:

https://forums.iboats.com/forum/owne...rtation/page10

Post number 138.

Highly recommended that you wear a proper vapor mask when using any type of chemical stripper as it is quite strong. It is also very hot and burns. Use in a well ventilated area. So wear chemical gloves so you don't burn yourself. As stated above, make sure your skin is covered as the smallest drop will burn you (that was experience talking).

There are a number of good posts here on stripping paint, you just have to find them. Most recommend working in small areas and covering the stripper with plastic so it doesn't evaporate while you are waiting for it to work (about 10 to 15 min). Cellophane from the Dollar stores is perfect. Use a plastic scraper to get most of the paint off, and use a good stiff plastic scrub brush to get around the nooks and crannies. I found that the brush did wonders around the rivets and seams.

A high pressure washer will make your life easier as well. You just want to be quick to rinse before the stripper has a chance to dry. Once you start you will get the hang of it, you need to find the rhythm. :rockon:

Good luck with the paint stripping, and be patient. You want to be mindful of the mess as well. I had a small plastic container to wipe the paint into as I was stripping it off. After that there was only a small amount of residual paint and goo that ended up on my gravel driveway. The other thing I noticed was that the stripper I was using was neutralized by water. So less of an environmental concern. That was the Heirloom stuff.

 

[edgepa]

I have had luck with Citrus Stripper on two different boats. After application,I used plastic scrapers followed immediately with 3M blue scrub pads (less abrasive than the green) that I dunked in five gallon water bucket. I switched pads as soon as they got thick with paint. I let the dirty one soak and pulled out another, switching as I went. It took a little elbow grease, but not too bad.

 

[BOAH]

Thank you for those suggestions. I've been putting it off because it's such a huge project but seeing some of these finished projects is pretty inspiring!

 

[Woodonglass]

There's no reason at all to strip the paint prior to a re-coat. If it's well adhered just sand it a bit and shoot over it. Remember ANY exposed bare aluminium should be primed with a light coat of self etching primer and then the normal primer.