Hydro-dipped Laminate Stock - Remove finish?

[Keith Glasscock]

I have a PRT Lowboy laminated stock that I had hydro dipped several years ago. I'd like to remove the finish and make some modifications before refinishing it with an oil finish.

What is the best method to remove the automotive primer/paint/clearcoat? Is stripping best, or sanding?

Thanks,
Keith

 

[Hntndad]

@Bc'z would be the authority on this. I’d just sand it, Keith. Skip the Aircraft stripper especially around a laminate. Makes a mess and you’ll end up finishing it up by sanding anyway. 60/80, 120 will get it pretty quickly just use appropriate sanding blocks / sticks to keep things flat and contoured where they need to be.

-Kevin

 

[joshb]

Sand it. Getting that stripper goo into your wood can cause all kinds of problems. Yes, you can wash it and neutralize it after the stripper, but....
Kevin explained it best.
Start with 80 grit until you start to see wood, then a light 120, then 220, etc. If it’s a high quality laminate, take it down to 600 before the oil. Sometimes a good filler is needed when you get to the 320 grit stage.

 

[Keith Glasscock]

@Bc'z would be the authority on this. I’d just sand it, Keith. Skip the Aircraft stripper especially around a laminate. Makes a mess and you’ll end up finishing it up by sanding anyway. 60/80, 120 will get it pretty quickly just use appropriate sanding blocks / sticks to keep things flat and contoured where they need to be.

-Kevin

Just did a test sand with 120 grit. Even though it's a couple of years old, it sure smells like wet paint when I sand it. The paint is at least .012 thick, so I'll be at this a while.

Thanks for the advice, I'll just take my time and work it down carefully.

 

[Hntndad]

Getting that stripper goo into your wood can cause all kinds of problems.

Something you wanna tell us, Josh?

 

[joshb]

Just did a test sand with 120 grit. Even though it's a couple of years old, it sure smells like wet paint when I sand it. The paint is at least .012 thick, so I'll be at this a while.

Thanks for the advice, I'll just take my time and work it down carefully.

A good Dewalt palm sander is worth the investment!

 

[joshb]

Something you wanna tell us, Josh?

Not here!

 

[Bc'z]

Just did a test sand with 120 grit. Even though it's a couple of years old, it sure smells like wet paint when I sand it. The paint is at least .012 thick, so I'll be at this a while.

Thanks for the advice, I'll just take my time and work it down carefully.

Start with 80 grit. I use a Dual Action sander on the flats. All the details are sanded by hand with various sticks blocks and files to remove old finish.
Next I block with a intermediate grit of 180/220 finishing with 320 before applying polyester primer.

Your smelling solvents due to the fact that they penetrate to the substrate with every coat before coming back to surface. The hydro dip being a vinyl film its probably trapping solvents from the primer that was possibly over applied and not left to cure long enough.
Feel free to contact me through PM and I'll trade phone#'s with you and we can discuss your project more in depth.
Brett

 

[RiflePainter]

Also, if you have access to a media blast cabinet it will take it off using low pressure then you can finish sand.