Fiberglass-Body Repair: Stripping Old Paint
In this segment, Mark Lambert demonstrates several methods for stripping and sanding the painted surfaces of the Corvette body. Because of the poor condition of painted exterior, and the high buildup of paint from previous paint jobs, we opted to remove all of the paint from the body of this Corvette. The extensive cracking in our painted exterior (figure A) has been caused by expansion and contraction of the layers of paint over time. If this kind of damaged paint is not removed completely, but simply painted over, problems in the finish will appear later. The paint was removed professionally from this Corvette body using media-blasting. Depending on the condition of your project car, you may or may not need to remove all of the paint. Following are some of the basic tools and techniques used in removing old paint from a fiberglass body.
Note: This is a summary of steps included in the automotive restoration procedures shown in this episode of Classic Car Restoration. These are general guidelines for restoration procedures on this particular make and model of vehicle, and for the level of restoration selected for this project. There may be variations in procedures depending model, condition of vehicle, level of restoration undertaken and the types of replacement parts or upgraded kits selected. Always follow proper safety precautions, and read and follow manufacturer's guidelines, diagrams and safety notices that come with any replacement parts or kit that you select.
Safety Alert: When sanding and working with fiberglass, wear full eye-protection, ear-protection and a respirator or mask to protect you from airborne fiberglass particles. Safety Alert: Always wear eye protection when working with power tools or pneumatic tools. Safety Alert: Always wear protective gloves, and ensure adequate ventilation, when working with chemical strippers, solvents and other toxic solutions.
- Chemical strippers -- such as ordinary household paint removers -- can be used to remove built-up layers of old paint. The stripper is applied to the painted surface using a roller (figure B).
- After the stripper has had time to act, the old, softened paint can be carefully scraped up using a plastic scraper (figure C).
- Important: When using chemical strippers on a fiberglass body, use caution to avoid leaving the chemicals on too long and stripping all the way down to the bare fiberglass. Use the chemicals to remove only the top layers of paint, then follow up by sanding or other techniques. Chemical strippers can harm the surface of the fiberglass substrate, necessitating additional gel-coating of the body.
- Media blasting is a form of abrasive stripping that uses granulated-plastic or other blasting media propelled from an air-powered gun. This is a preferred method for removing paint from a fiberglass car, and we did so using a specially formulated plastic media made especially for use on fiberglass (figure D). This special media won't damage the gel-coat on the fiberglass body.
- Stripping an entire car body typically requires taking it to a professional media-blasting facility where trained specialists use sophisticated equipment remove all of the old paint (figure E).
- For smaller stripping jobs, you may be able to do the job yourself using sandpaper and various sanding and stripping tools. A pneumatic air-file (figure G) is air-powered and offers back-and-forth action that's ideal for sanding most surfaces.
- A dual-action sander (figure G) has rotary or orbital action for various sanding requirements. The rotary setting is used for heavier-duty sanding and removing larger amounts of paint. The orbital setting is used for finer sanding work. Sandpaper ranging from 80-grit to 180-grit is recommended, using finer grades in latter stages of sanding.
- A hand-file (figure H) is ideal for finishing work, using finer grades of sandpaper down to 220-grit.
- Sanding drill-bit attachments and sanding wheels for hand-held drills are ideal for removing paint from small, tight spaces such as the openings for the Corvette's tail-lights (figures I and J).
In the episode that follows, Mark continues work on the Corvette engine.
RESOURCES :
Corvette Black Book : 1953-2001
Model: 0933534477
Author: Michael Antonick
Corvette: The American Legend
Model: 0785343741
Author: Consumer Guide Editors
Classic Car Restorer's Handbook: Restoration Tips and Techniques for Owners ...
Model: 1557881944
Author: Jim Richardson
Order this book from Amazon.com
H.P. Books
Classic Car Restoration Guide: The Complete Illustrated Step-By-Step Manual
Model: 1850108900
Author: Lindsay Porter
Order this book from Amazon.com
Haynes Publishing
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