SANDING

[JOKER]

WHAT IS THE EASIEST WAY TO GET THROUGH THIS 500 YEARS OF BUILT UP PAINT? IS SANDING IT DOWN BETTER DRY OR WET? IF SO WHAT GRIT. WHAT DO YOU DO TO DO IT WET? I TRIED GOING THROUGH THE FORUMS AND GETTING HINTS. BUT CAN SOMEONE HELP ME WITH SPECIFICS?

[low budget]

Here is a way...



http://www.ehow.com/how_5007_strip-paint-car.html

[choptop]

How many coats of paint are on it?

[Donut]

How many coats of paint are on it?

Also, how far are you going?  Bare metal or close to it?  I THINK I used 80 grit on a DA, not knowing what was underneath some of the paint, I didn't want to use chemicals.

[JOKER]

WELL I AM GOING TO THE BARE METAL. THERE IS NO TELLING HOW BAD OFF IT IS. LOOKS LIKE ABOUT 80 COATS OF PAINT ON IT.. LOL. WELL NOT THAT MANY BUT. I WANNA MAKE SURE IT IS RIGHT. SO IS THE STRIPPER THE BEST WAY TO GO? OR SHOULD I JUST SAND THE MESS OUTTA IT?

[JOKER]

IF I AM NOT SURE WHAT SHAPE THE METAL UNDERNEATH IS IN? SHOULD I JUST SAND? I AM NOT SURE HOW MANY EXACT COATS ARE ON IT. BUT IT LOOKS LIKE ALOT.

[zieg85]

Call around to a couple of Industrial Paint suppliers and ask them if they could measure your paint thickness.  Being a technical service rep I have a gauge that measures dry paint film thickness and expressed in mils of paint.  Normally paint film including a primer and topcoat would measure out 3-4 mils total.  If it has any body filler in it you can tell.  I use it as my bondo tester when I look at supposed "rust free" vehicles.  If I was closer I would measure it for you.   

[dv8customs]

If it has a lot of layers on it you would save yourself a lot of trouble by finding a local place that can blast it for you.

[Donut]

JOKER, kinda off topic, but all capital letters= shouting.  Plus it assaults my old eyeballs 

[choptop]

If you can repaint it without going to bare metal, that would be the best route. I have been told by painters, and experienced it myself, that if you go to metal, you will be at the point to where it will take more prep to keep it from rusting thru your new paint. If it is, Id be curious about just sanding it down to the original, and then repaint.

[JOKER]

First thing. Sorry Donut bout the caps. As for measuring the level of thickness, I did not even know they could do that.

[JOKER]

Well Dv8 customs, I am wanting to do it myself. Trying to save on the money. Besides it is kinda relaxing in a crazy way. You are prbrably right Choptop,
about the rusting through and being easier. I got me some 80 and 100 grit sand paper today. My wife and I took the the inside of the truck apart. except seat and carpet. We are gonna start  sanding tomorrow.

[JOKER]

I did not get the paint measured. But there is layers of white, blue, red, dark blue and grey.  I appreciate all the advice. I think I am gonna just sand it down to the original. but will that effect any panels I am replacing?

[choptop]

I did not get the paint measured. But there is layers of white, blue, red, dark blue and grey.  I appreciate all the advice. I think I am gonna just sand it down to the original. but will that effect any panels I am replacing?

 The panels replaced will have to be sealed with the proper primer, as well as any places that you sand down to metal. It will be a matter of blending in the different surfaces at that point. Im not a pro painter at all, several guys here are, but it makes sense to try to keep the conatminants out of the metal surface as best as possible. It will take some finesse to sand down to the original paint, and not go through to the metal, but the extra caution would be worth it.

[JOKER]

Well Choptop, We tried to take it easy and are still hitting some metal spots. but we will have to just dress it up.. I got some dinged up spots to we are
finding. here is a before pic.