Paint Stripper and Rivets!

[Catfishmonkey]

Hey everyone,

Started to work on another hull and still dont have pictures of the one I finished last year. Anyhow, had a quick question for you starcraft/tinny boat buffs out there. The bottom paint is about as crappy as it can be (only about 50% of it left). I bought some stripper to strip the bottom of the boat down to bare aluminum. My only question is, is there any reason I should be careful about not getting stripper on rivets and seams. I heard that the factory usually puts some kind of rubber seal underneath the rivets (and seams), to waterproof it...so I am just wondering if I can slop the stripper all over the place, or whether I should just avoid putting it whether the rivets are, and then just go back a second time just with a wirebrush to take care of them. Slopping it all over the place is certainly easier, but is it wise?

CFM

 

[fishingron]

Re: Paint Stripper and Rivets!

Hi, I do not have any experience using paint stripper. I have never heard of each of the aluminum rivets on a hull being "sealed" with a rubber seal. I have been told that it is the expansion alone of a closed end aluminum rivet that properly seals a rivet hole on the hull. Now there is some type of tape seal that they use between two sheets of aluminum, for example at the chine where the sidewall and bottom hull match up, they have a seal there between the metal. I have been told by the local Starcraft dealer that should I ever do some repair welding on my boat ( just to weld up some holes on the transom) to make sure I don't get too close to that type of seam as that seal could get damaged by the heat.
Many of the restoration threads done by other people have shown many just using the stripper on the entire hull, the good thing is that the stripper gets all that paint out from the edges around the rivet.
I hope someone else confirms what I am saying, I hope I am not mistaken on my advise.
Good luck with the restore!

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Paint Stripper and Rivets!

there is a sealant between the panels. not applied to each rivet. however the rivets are expanded thru the process of installing them. you will be fine "slopping it on"

 

[Catfishmonkey]

Re: Paint Stripper and Rivets!

Sweet! Just what I wanted to hear. Let the slopping begin!

Thanks guys,

CFM

 

[m casey stock]

Re: Paint Stripper and Rivets!

Ditto to the other statements on seal between rivets and seams. I was told to just us a good quality sealer if you are going to repaint so everything sticks to the bare aluminum. Would love to see some pictures of your project!

 

[Bwana Don]

Re: Paint Stripper and Rivets!

I goobered it on. The sealant is in between the overlap on the panels. Scrub her real good before moving to the next step. Vinegar & water wash at 50/50 then on to an etching primer. I like zinc chromate (yellow or green), sticks to bear aluminum like crazy. Follow with Rust Stop (rebranded Rustoleum) oil based from Ace Hardware in any color you want.

I used a brass cup brush in a drill to scrub between the rivets, and a 3M pad for general paint removal. Keep the stripper moist, if it dries out paint removal suffers.

 

[Catfishmonkey]

Re: Paint Stripper and Rivets!

Sounds good. I was thinking of using paint thinner to get the stripper off once I am done with it (seems like its a pretty tough job so far...need a whole bunch of the stuff). I was then thinking to clean it off with a citris degreaser, and then some dawn dish soap and water. Is the vinegar and water wash better?

Also, I was wondering, any ways to keep the stripper moist? Seems like it is drying pretty quick.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Paint Stripper and Rivets!

Apply the stripper in the shade and out of the wind if possible toavoid drying out. I like to apply it late in the evening and let it set overnight and remove it the next morning.

A wire cup brush in an angle grinder or drill will make the quickest work of any residue, after that I use a Scotchbrite pad and Dawn for the final scrubdown.