stripping old paint

[hillbilly 79]

what is the best thing to use to get the old paint off ? i have a 1960 lowe boat , and i want to restore it right . it is alum. any ideas i sure would like to hear them

 

[Rickairmedic]

Re: stripping old paint

Hillbilly I would say aircraft stripper would be the easiest way to go it is available at most autoparts stores. I will add it is nasty caustic stuff to work with but also easy as pie . Brush it on let it work when the paint bubbles up scrape it off . May take several applications to get all the paint off but its what alot of us use to strip classic cars . The only thing I am not sure about on an aluminum boat is whats used to seal the boat that the aircraft stripper might also remove. I am sure one of the aluminum boat guys will pop in shortly and let you know if this method will work ok.


Rick

 

[drewpster]

Re: stripping old paint

I am not sure of what specific product to recommend with aluminum. But I can highly recommend using stripper rather than sanding or blasting. I have used strippers on fiberglass and wood and it is hands down a easier process than any other way I have tried.
Try to determine what type of paint was used to paint the boat. It will determine what kind of stripper to use. if you do not know what kind of paint it is, go to the home center and buy a stripper that can be used on aluminum and just try it. It is important to follow the directions exactly. (ie some strippers fail if they are brushed on, apply per specific instructions) I have never used aircraft stripper but I hear it is excellent stuff. I have used citristrip and Kleen strip and they both worked great. If an automotive type paint was used than aircraft stripper would be the way to go.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: stripping old paint

Welcome to iboats!!

WHY? Are you going to repaint or polish the hull? Repainting does not require a full strip. Oven cleaner has been said to strip paint.

If you are going to repaint. Sand it smooth. ANY BARE aluminum will require a wash with vinegar and water followed by a coating (from a rattle can) of zinc chromate. Take a good look at the Starcraft Restoration that North Beach is doing (I will warn you his is extreme perfection ) and see the results he has achieved.

You are in the right place, full of knowledge and full of picture junkies too

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: stripping old paint

Hello m8..

Remove paint.

wash.

Alumiprep then Alodine .. then zinc Chromate..prep and spray.

YD

 

[Bondo]

Re: stripping old paint

Ayuh,... Unless it's old bottom paint, or old latex house paint,...

Just sand/ scuff it smooth,+ Repaint it....
It'll save a Ton of Work, with as good, or Better results.....

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: stripping old paint

No need to strip down to bare metal...Like Bond-O stated & Bob said..

Sand smooth and repaint..Rustoleum works great!
Heres my before..

And after..just sanded, cleaned of the dust and rolled rustoleum

 

[hillbilly 79]

Re: stripping old paint

somebody has used house paint on the whole boat and then that had been painted over and over . thats the reason i was wanting to take it all the way to bare metal. thanks for the info this is a great site

 

[drewpster]

Re: stripping old paint

If it is house paint your in luck. Simple strippers available at a home center will do the trick. I recommend Citristrip or Kleen Strip products. Follow the directions closely and give the product time to work. A trick is to dab the stripper on and keep it wet and that old latex will peel right off. When you get down to the factory paint you will likely find it harder to remove. That is where the aircraft stripper can do its work. I had to remove latex from the deck of my boat and stripper did the job well. Beats sanding any day, especially on latex house paint. Use simple strippers at first and move up to aircraft stripper to finish the job and it will likely save you some money. Remember to dab the stripper on, do not brush it. It makes a difference.

 

[reelfishin]

Re: stripping old paint

Aircraft stripper works fine on aluminum, (aircraft is mostly aluminum too), but do be careful around riveted seams with sealer. It will damage the sealer if used to heavily. I usually use it to clear away the bulk, and sand the edges.
I have one boat which the last owner decided to paint the hull with florescent blue enamel of some kind, it looked bad, really bad. Sanding it only gummed up sand paper and it was so thick it hid many of the rivets.
I brushed on a heavy coating of stripper, worked in small sections, and scraped off the paint with a plastic putty knife. Once I was in sight of the factory paint, I put on one more light coat of stripper, used a Scotchbrite pad to wipe away the last layer of paint. I then washed the entire hull well to neutralize any remaining stripper, dried, and sanded what was left smooth.

I then primed the bare metal areas with self etching primer, zinc chromate, and then painted the entire hull over with epoxy paint.