What is the best Aircraft Paint Stripper out there?

[Banker Ed]

I have an old 60 year old Arkansas Travler that has 5 coats of paint on it. I worked on the transom yesterday for a couple hours and still don't have it to the bare aluminum. I used a belt sander, a palm sander, a wire brush and Rust-Oleum Aircraft paint stripper. In my book that stripper is probably not the best stripper out there. I saw where Eastwood has a Gel Paint and Powder stripper (somewhat expensive). Has anyone used that and is it better than any of the rest. Sure would like to find a stripper that will really work. Any ideas. Here is a picture of my old boat.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: What is the best Aircraft Paint Stripper out there?

Nothing out there will eat thru 4-5 coats of paint with one application. Clean Strip AirCraft stripper is what I use and it works well on two coats. Gloves and Respirator are MANDATORY!!! Sand with 60Grit first to allow the stripper to do it's work.

 

[Bondo]

Re: What is the best Aircraft Paint Stripper out there?

Ayuh,.... Unless the paint is Fallin' off,..... Leave it on, 'n sand it smooth, 'n repaint it....

Strippin' it to bare metal is makin' yer job 10 times harder, 'n 10Xs more expensive...

 

[jigngrub]

Re: What is the best Aircraft Paint Stripper out there?

CitrusStrip will eat through 2 or 3 coats... but! You have to apply it and let it sit for 12-20 hrs., apply it one day and come back the next day and remove the paint (goo) with a scraper. I apply it in the afternoon and come back late the next morning and remove it.

CitrusStrip isn't flammable and doesn't have toxic fumes (smells like oranges). It's available in the paint depts of Wal-mart and Home Depot.

 

[Banker Ed]

Re: What is the best Aircraft Paint Stripper out there?

I tried that on the transom but the paint is so horably chipped that it looked like a map of the world when I finished painting. I have already spent $60.00 on some self etching primer. A good bit of the bottom of the boat is chipped off to the bare aluminum. Think I am just going to have to bite the bullett and spend that $85.00 for aircraft stripper and put that 10 times more work into it. The story of my life it to have more $$$$ in things than they are worth. Thanks for your suggestion. Ed Bell

 

[Banker Ed]

Re: What is the best Aircraft Paint Stripper out there?

Thanks Jigngrub. I give that a test run. It will probably be a lot cheaper at Walmart than the stuff Eastwood sells. Thanks again! Ed Bell

 

[Banker Ed]

Re: What is the best Aircraft Paint Stripper out there?

Woodonglass, I am doing this all outside, do you think a respirator is still necessary and will a mask do. No sure what a respirator is. Thanks! Ed Bell

 

[GT1000000]

Re: What is the best Aircraft Paint Stripper out there?

If you are working out doors, you can probably get away with not having to use a respirator, but if you start to feel any effects from the stripper, it may already be too late...Unless you are used to strong industrial type chemicals, you should err on the side of caution and protect your self with an inexpensive respirator available at places like Home Depot...they don't cost a lot and can prevent you from spending a fortune, if you end up getting hauled away by "Rescue"...

this is what they look like...

You also might want to consider a cheap pair of goggles, if this stuff gets in your eyes, it will definitely burn and may cause permanent eye damage...

Chemical strippers are a varied lot...
One of the best ones I have used is "KleenStrip" Aircraft Grade...
Like Woodonglass recommended...
It will only remove 1-3 layers per application, but you can do a couple of things to help it do its job...
1- lightly wire wheel the surface to create some pores for the stripper to penetrate...
2- immediately after applying the stripper, cover it with plastic food wrap [aka, Saran Wrap]...This will help to keep it from evaporating the solvents too quickly and allow it to do its thing...

No matter what, it is going to be time and money consuming, but if you are looking for a really nice finish, there is nothing like starting on a "clean slate"

Good Luck,
GT1M

 

[Banker Ed]

Re: What is the best Aircraft Paint Stripper out there?

Thanks a lot GT1M. Really great info. I'll try them all including a new respriator. I did buy a small bottel of that Citrus stripper and tried a small portion last night. It really didn't do much. I'll probably get a gallon of that aircraft kleen stripp and work with that. I did just buy a 4 inch wire brush that goes on my angle grinder. I also tried it out this afternoon. It really digs in, maybe even too much. I was planning to paint the bottom portion of the boat white and one of top pannels with a light blue. A buddy of mine said, he has never seen a fishing boat out there painted white. I've see several here on iboat painted white and I kinda like them. Ed Bell

 

[jigngrub]

Re: What is the best Aircraft Paint Stripper out there?

Did you let the CitrusStrip set over night before removing it?

 

[wolfsmurf]

Re: What is the best Aircraft Paint Stripper out there?

That kleenstrip is best I've ever seen just make sure to not get it on anything painted that is good the way it is. I used the stuff on a small project, was a aerosol can......I was spraying over 20 feet from my truck and it still wrinkled the paint on the quarter panel so bad it looked like it was white bedliner.lol

 

[Bwana Don]

Re: What is the best Aircraft Paint Stripper out there?

Don't let it dry out. I've had best luck while it's still pliable. Late in the afternoon is good advice, I'll add in the shade also. CitriStrip is pretty good stuff.

I also like a 3M pad in an electric drill to help it along. I'm doing the Se Nymph in the driveway over the winter using ONLY a 3M pad. A little here a little there. It builds character, lol.

 

[Banker Ed]

Re: What is the best Aircraft Paint Stripper out there?

I let the CitrusStrip set over night but I may not have put enough on. It was real hard and dry the next day, almost as hard as the original dry paint. May have been too cool for it. I only bought a small bottle of it so I'll use all of that. I also had a small can of the Rust-olum aircraft stripper that I have been trying. When I use it and the citrusStripper up, I will probably go with a gallon of the kleenstrip aircraft stripper.

 

[Banker Ed]

Re: What is the best Aircraft Paint Stripper out there?

I won't be using any aerosal cans.

 

[Banker Ed]

Re: What is the best Aircraft Paint Stripper out there?

Bwana Don, I took a look at a picture of your 1967 Sea Nymph 14'. It sure does resemble my SP-14 Arkansas Travler. What are the 3M pads in a drill that you mention? I think that 4" wire brush in the Angle grinder may do a pretty good job. I may just not need to press down as hard as I did this afternoon, out in the rain. It really scratches and knocks off the paint. Ed Bell

 

[jimmy wise]

Re: What is the best Aircraft Paint Stripper out there?

The key to paint stripper is to get a heavy coat on an let it work. Cover it with plastic sheeting it works good

 

[Banker Ed]

Re: What is the best Aircraft Paint Stripper out there?

Jimmy, when you talk about covering it with plastdic, are you talking about the CitrusStrip only or any of the strippers? The citrusstrip is the only one that possibly recommends leaving it on 12 to 24 hours. I think most of the others recommend only about 30 minutes or so. Ed Bell

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: What is the best Aircraft Paint Stripper out there?

All of them. It really aids in their ability to cut thru the paint layers. Evaporation IS your enemy.

 

[Bwana Don]

Re: What is the best Aircraft Paint Stripper out there?

All of them. It really aids in their ability to cut thru the paint layers. Evaporation IS your enemy.

Here, here, keep it moist.



3M 03171 4" Paint and Rust Stripper
Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_n...keywords=+3M+03171+4"+Paint+and+Rust+Stripper

 

[Banker Ed]

Re: What is the best Aircraft Paint Stripper out there?

Bwana Don, thanks for the link for the 3M pads. I started to order one but the $6.00 postage scared me off. I did order a new Kawasaki angle grinder today and a gallon of aircraft stripper. The 4 inch wire brush that I was using on my Black & Decker grinder was causing that cheap grinder to come apart. That's the reason I ordered a new grinder. Maybe it will be a little better than that black & decker. I sure didn't like how that CurtisStripper works. I even covered it with siran wrap and it still did little for me. I think I am going through 6 layers of paint. I took a picture today of the little spot I am working on and am posting it here. After several hours, I did get a 12 inch by 12 inch down to the aluminum. I have been trying a lot of different applications and have just about come up with what I am going to do. I am now hoping that I may not even need to paint it. Just leave it in the natural aluminum. There are some holes that I am going to have to deal with. Maybe fill them with rivets or stainless steel screw heads.