My J&S buggy probably has 10 different coats of paint over the original gelcoat😠 What is the best way to remove?
Can you use paint stripper?
40 grad on the orbital does bugger all, or should I use a sanding disk on a grinder/drill/ air tool thingy !
Before you attack the fibreglass body with any chemicals or sand paper, go talk to a panel shop or fibreglass mob.
Orbitals, and disc sanders are a sure fire way to destroy your buggy, they will make the whole thing look as smooth as a plastecine sculpture, Including all those wobbly bits.
I would be much more keen on using thinners to disolve the paint, and just do a little at a time.
Thinners should disolve the paint but not affect the fibre glass, I am thinking acrylic paint.....if the paint is 2 pak then I am not too sure what you should use.
But even paint stripper should be ok, but do it one small section at a time, like a 2 foot size section, so it doesnt get away from you and eat too deeply, I would do a test on a piece that cant be seen too well just to make sure.
The big thing here is to ensure that all the lovely work that went into the original buggy mold doent get wrecked and leave you with either A. a Shitload of panelwork to do afterwards or B. a stuffed Buggy.
And be sure if you do use paint stripper that you wash it all down after you finish each bit so that the water deactivates the paint stripper, you dont want it working its nasty little magic on your buggy while you are sleeping.
Just test it out on a little spot, and if the buggy has a good body underneath and you like the colour of the gelcoat, you can just polish it up and dont worry about the painting.
I would hate to see a buggy ruined by trial and error, throw the power tools away, they make more work than they save.
Cheers Tony
i bought a paint stripper in a spray form from my local auto shop. cheaper then real stripper, and it only seems to remove one layer at a time as it is not too strong, so maybe u could use that sorta stuff, wouldnt penetrate as far as the glass?
or you could try a citrus based thinner
I recently used some on some rubbers with out any problems. I agree that it would be best that if you did try some kind of thinner it would be wise to use it on a non visible part of the body any ways best of luck, hope you get it sorted.
Craig Torrens6 times Australian, 7 times State Hillclimb Class Champion
I ask someone else who might know and they said same as me.... but with the added chance that whatever you put back on the fibreglass might lift again as the stripper eats into the glass and hides there untill something new is added
you could use a strip disc on a 8"sander,will take alot of coats of,just be carefull let the disc do the work,then i would sand the last couple,you want to end up with straight panels not with grooves in them,paint stripper could give you trouble when preparing for the new paint,use a soft steelwool and multi thinners and rub it all off,plus this will help remove the paint without scrappers,
its messy,good luck...
