[Modern_twist]

I was wondering what you guys are using on your projects. My friend is working on his 72 GandPrix and was planning on doing the muratic acid trick until i warned him that i got bad feedback on here about it. he replied "ask them what i can use that will work like that does" meaning if we strip the car down with 80 grit so all paint is removed how can we get that nice white steel without blasting it. Let me know what you think and where i can get it. Thanks

 

[timothale]

paint removal.

I have used a putty knife like furniture restoration guys do. I round off the corners of a good stiff 4 inch blade with a belt sander then sharpen it.. I hold the blade starting at 90 degreess and scrape adjusting the angle and pull with both hands. ..this works very good on multiple layers. NO hazzardous dust every where. then either chemicals and the pressure washer or sanding.

 

[Jon]

This wiki article may be helpful to you: Stripping paint.

 

[440a-body]

soda blastimg does an amazing job with out distorting the sheet metal.

 

[jeremyb]

soda blastimg does an amazing job with out distorting the sheet metal.

oh lord.

best way without blasting, imo, is chemical. The wiki article Jon posted describes the process pretty well.

 

[38mike]

stripping a body

I have to strongly recommend Redi-Strip. They have locations around the country...find 'em on their website and in your phone book. While the price runs you into 4 figures, they can do in a few days what will take you weeks to do by hand. It leaves the metal as pristine as could probably be imagined...no scuffs, no scratches, no residue, NO rust. They use chemicals (not acids, though, which are damaging to the surface) and everything except steel will be gone when you get your car back.
One great feature is that they will coat everything afterwards with some sort of invisible protective layer that supposedly prevents surface rusting and all for ?90 days?. Well, my project got sidetracked from early last summer and now 15 months later as my body work is finally commencing, the surface STILL looks great...just a touch of surface stuff here and there!
Its an expensive proposition and I'm not a big-bucks guy, but if a couple of grand is worth eliminating days and weeks of tedious stripping, I feel its well worth it.

 

[Bash]

I hate chemical strips personally ie burns skin when exposed and messy if it gets on another pannel you don't want stripped Oh OH. Jus me and my opinion.. I have used different grit papers on a slow speed with an 8 inch foam pad and with care can strip a panel faster then any chemical. But then thats just my opinion.. for what its worth.. about 2 cent maybe?

Bash