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Removing old paint... [message #221367] Fri, 06 September 2013 17:27 Go to next message
quadracerx1 is currently offline  quadracerx1   United States
Messages: 207
Registered: April 2013
Location: Puyallup, Washington
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Senior Member
What is the best method of removing old paint on our GMC's?

Sandblasting
DA Sanding
Aircraft Stripper
OR?

I don't know if my couch is original paint or not, but a long time body man friend told me that the best way to prep is to take it to metal then proceed as needed....

I think Id rather do that than just "scuff and shoot". I have access to all 3 methods above so its a matter of what you think will work best?

Thanks again...

Steve


75 26' GMC Glenbrook Puyallup, Washington
Re: Removing old paint... [message #221368 is a reply to message #221367] Fri, 06 September 2013 17:42 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Keith V is currently offline  Keith V   United States
Messages: 2337
Registered: March 2008
Location: Mounds View,MN
Karma: 0
Senior Member
quadracerx1 wrote on Fri, 06 September 2013 17:27

What is the best method of removing old paint on our GMC's?

Sandblasting
DA Sanding
Aircraft Stripper
OR?

I don't know if my couch is original paint or not, but a long time body man friend told me that the best way to prep is to take it to metal then proceed as needed....

I think Id rather do that than just "scuff and shoot". I have access to all 3 methods above so its a matter of what you think will work best?

Thanks again...

Steve


Razor blades.
seriously! Just like taking a sticker off a windshield.
Get a single edge razor blade holder and zip.

I did my entire Corvette that way, and that thing has curves!

Best part is there is little mess, just paint chips you can sweep up, and no paint stripper goo everywhere.

If you try it you will wonder how the paint ever stayed on!

I have found one time when the paint didn't come off that way, it was really stuck.

but it's worth a shot,


Keith Vasilakes
Mounds View. MN
75 ex Royale GMC
ask me about MicroLevel
Cell, 763-732-3419
My427v8@hotmail.com
Re: Removing old paint... [message #221370 is a reply to message #221367] Fri, 06 September 2013 17:59 Go to previous messageGo to next message
GeorgeRud is currently offline  GeorgeRud   United States
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Location: Chicago, IL
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The razor blade would probably work well on the SMC molded panels, but a lot of the coach is aluminum. My understanding is that it's not so easy to get paint to stick to the aluminum without detailed prep work, so a scuff on the old, adhered paint may not be so bad.

Jim Bounds ( GMC Coop in Orlando) or Larry Bontrager (at Topeka Graphics in Indiana) would probably be the best ones to tell you what has worked well for them.


George Rudawsky
Chicago, IL
75 Palm Beach

[Updated on: Fri, 06 September 2013 18:00]

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Re: Removing old paint... [message #221371 is a reply to message #221370] Fri, 06 September 2013 18:17 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Keith V is currently offline  Keith V   United States
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Registered: March 2008
Location: Mounds View,MN
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the razor wont remove the primer, just the top coat.
then you scuff the primer, spray a high fill sandable primer over that.

I wouldn't remove primer unless there was a known issue with it or incompatibility with the new paint, poly over lacquer or something


Keith Vasilakes
Mounds View. MN
75 ex Royale GMC
ask me about MicroLevel
Cell, 763-732-3419
My427v8@hotmail.com
Re: Removing old paint... [message #221373 is a reply to message #221371] Fri, 06 September 2013 18:29 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Harry is currently offline  Harry   Canada
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Registered: October 2007
Location: Victoria, BC CANADA
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Sand it smooth. Leave the original paint on. That gives the new paint something to stick to. If you take it down to the aluminum, you need zinc chromate primer.
If the paint is fairly good, use a fine grit paper.
Prep is everything.
Re: Removing old paint... [message #221413 is a reply to message #221367] Fri, 06 September 2013 22:54 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Craig Lechowicz is currently offline  Craig Lechowicz   United States
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Location: Waterford, MI
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I still haven't decided if I'm going to remove my old paint or not, as I'm several years away from getting it painted anyway. But, I was at Autorama a couple years ago and talked to some of the guys at the exhibits for places that did sand blasting for the hot rod crowd. Several of them were wary of sand blasting the aluminum part of the coach, due to the relative softness of the aluminum. They thought it would work fine on the SMC part. They said soda blasting might be better than sandblasting, and also thought chemical stripping might not be a bad way to go.

Craig Lechowicz
'77 Kingsley, Waterford, MI
Re: Removing old paint... [message #221414 is a reply to message #221367] Fri, 06 September 2013 23:13 Go to previous messageGo to next message
roy1 is currently offline  roy1   United States
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Location: Minden nevada
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The original Emeron paint on mine was sound.We sanded it and repaired any damaged fiberglass panels that needed fixing primed it with DuPont veraprime then shot it with Emeron top coat color and cleared it. It has held up for more then 25 years so I guess it was a good way to go.

Roy Keen Minden,NV 76 X Glenbrook

[Updated on: Fri, 06 September 2013 23:40]

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Re: [GMCnet] Removing old paint... [message #221420 is a reply to message #221367] Sat, 07 September 2013 00:16 Go to previous messageGo to next message
kelvin is currently offline  kelvin   United States
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Took mine all down with a DA. It's a messy job and be careful not to
get into the gelcoat.
It sorta sucked. Happy that I paid someone else to do it.


Kelvin
'73 23' in Eugene OR

On 9/6/2013 3:27 PM, Steve wrote:
>
> What is the best method of removing old paint on our GMC's?
>
> Sandblasting
> DA Sanding
> Aircraft Stripper
> OR?
>
> I don't know if my couch is original paint or not, but a long time body man friend told me that the best way to prep is to take it to metal then proceed as needed....
>
> I think Id rather do that than just "scuff and shoot". I have access to all 3 methods above so its a matter of what you think will work best?
>
> Thanks again...
>
> Steve

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Re: [GMCnet] Removing old paint... [message #221466 is a reply to message #221420] Sat, 07 September 2013 09:00 Go to previous messageGo to next message
powerjon is currently offline  powerjon   United States
Messages: 2446
Registered: January 2004
Karma: 5
Senior Member
All the people that paint GMC coaches, Jim B, Cinnabar and Topeka when then do them and where I had mine done all prepare the coach by DA sanding. They remove the highs and lows repair what is necessary and use a bonding filler primer and sand again before color and clear coat. I know that Jim B had a coach that was sandblasted by the owner before bringing it to him to paint. It was a mess, the gelcoat was badly damage and I don't know if he every did paint it. It was a prime example of what not to do.

Coach prep and paint as done by Topeka:
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/g3675-topeka-gmc-paint-job.html
Another good how to by Kevin D on his coach.
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/search.php?searchid=56554
And also look at these for the prep.
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/fresh-paint-dec-2012/p46972-new-paint-on-the-230.html

JR Wright
GMC Great Laker MHC
GMC Eastern States
GMCMHI
TZE Zone Restorations
78 Buskirk 30' Stretch
1975 Avion (Under Reconstruction)
Michigan

On Sep 7, 2013, at 1:16 AM, Kelvin Dietz <kelvin@datsuns.com> wrote:

> Took mine all down with a DA. It's a messy job and be careful not to
> get into the gelcoat.
> It sorta sucked. Happy that I paid someone else to do it.
>
>
> Kelvin
> '73 23' in Eugene OR
>
> On 9/6/2013 3:27 PM, Steve wrote:
>>
>> What is the best method of removing old paint on our GMC's?
>>
>> Sandblasting
>> DA Sanding
>> Aircraft Stripper
>> OR?
>>
>> I don't know if my couch is original paint or not, but a long time body man friend told me that the best way to prep is to take it to metal then proceed as needed....
>>
>> I think Id rather do that than just "scuff and shoot". I have access to all 3 methods above so its a matter of what you think will work best?
>>
>> Thanks again...
>>
>> Steve

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J.R. Wright
GMC GreatLaker
GMC Eastern States
GMCMI
78 30' Buskirk Stretch
75 Avion Under Reconstruction
Michigan
Re: [GMCnet] Removing old paint... [message #221473 is a reply to message #221367] Sat, 07 September 2013 09:49 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Steven Ferguson is currently offline  Steven Ferguson   United States
Messages: 3447
Registered: May 2006
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Senior Member
There is no better base coat than that original paint. It is not necessary
to remove it to achieve a good finish paint project. Repair and prep are
the two critical elements of a good paint job.
Steve F


On Fri, Sep 6, 2013 at 3:27 PM, Steve <quadracerx@aol.com> wrote:

>
>
> What is the best method of removing old paint on our GMC's?
>
> Sandblasting
> DA Sanding
> Aircraft Stripper
> OR?
>
> I don't know if my couch is original paint or not, but a long time body
> man friend told me that the best way to prep is to take it to metal then
> proceed as needed....
>
> I think Id rather do that than just "scuff and shoot". I have access to
> all 3 methods above so its a matter of what you think will work best?
>
> Thanks again...
>
> Steve
> --
> 75 26' GMC Glenbrook
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>



--
Take care,
Steve
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Re: [GMCnet] Removing old paint... [message #221484 is a reply to message #221420] Sat, 07 September 2013 11:07 Go to previous messageGo to next message
powerjon is currently offline  powerjon   United States
Messages: 2446
Registered: January 2004
Karma: 5
Senior Member
All the people that paint GMC coaches, Jim B, Cinnabar and Topeka when then do them and where I had mine done all prepare the coach by DA sanding. They remove the highs and lows repair what is necessary and use a bonding filler primer and sand again before color and clear coat. I know that Jim B had a coach that was sandblasted by the owner before bringing it to him to paint. It was a mess, the gelcoat was badly damage and I don't know if he every did paint it. It was a prime example of what not to do.

Coach prep and paint as done by Topeka:
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/g3675-topeka-gmc-paint-job.html
Another good how to by Kevin D on his coach.
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/search.php?searchid=56554
And also look at these for the prep.
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/fresh-paint-dec-2012/p46972-new-paint-on-the-230.html

JR Wright
GMC Great Laker MHC
GMC Eastern States
GMCMHI
TZE Zone Restorations
78 Buskirk 30' Stretch
1975 Avion (Under Reconstruction)
Michigan

On Sep 7, 2013, at 1:16 AM, Kelvin Dietz <kelvin@datsuns.com> wrote:

> Took mine all down with a DA. It's a messy job and be careful not to
> get into the gelcoat.
> It sorta sucked. Happy that I paid someone else to do it.
>
>
> Kelvin
> '73 23' in Eugene OR
>
> On 9/6/2013 3:27 PM, Steve wrote:
>>
>> What is the best method of removing old paint on our GMC's?
>>
>> Sandblasting
>> DA Sanding
>> Aircraft Stripper
>> OR?
>>
>> I don't know if my couch is original paint or not, but a long time body man friend told me that the best way to prep is to take it to metal then proceed as needed....
>>
>> I think Id rather do that than just "scuff and shoot". I have access to all 3 methods above so its a matter of what you think will work best?
>>
>> Thanks again...
>>
>> Steve

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J.R. Wright
GMC GreatLaker
GMC Eastern States
GMCMI
78 30' Buskirk Stretch
75 Avion Under Reconstruction
Michigan
Re: [GMCnet] Removing old paint... [message #221505 is a reply to message #221367] Sat, 07 September 2013 13:49 Go to previous message
sgltrac is currently offline  sgltrac   United States
Messages: 2797
Registered: April 2011
Karma: 1
Senior Member
If the original finish is in sound condition and adhering well then there is no need to strip it off. The exception to that statement would be on the smc panels. I found the adhesion on these panels to be somewhat inconsistent. The razor blade method suggested by Keith worked well for me. Mark your razor blades so you know which side was up when you started. The edge of the blade will feather into a scoop of sorts once you start using it but it cannot be seen with my eyes and when you drop it on the ground you might dive back in with the wrong side and that's when you can gouge it badly. Buy a big box of blades and a holder. the holder can be used for most of the surfaces but the complex curves i found easier bare handed. The imron paint is really stable as far as paint films go and being 30+ years old it is done shrinking. The paint adhesion issue on The Pig was between the smc and factory primer. The imron was holding to the primer fine.

Forget sand blasting as you will ruin the coach by pitting the smc and stretching the aluminum. Even an expert with plastic bead blasting will likely wave the aluminum sheets as the spacing of the support ribs is inconsistent. I don't know if the plastic media will ding the smc but I do know that walnut shells will.

Chemical strippers will work well on repainted coaches to remove the repaint but even aircraft remover wouldn't do anything but clean the factory imron underneath on The Pig. Chemical strippers can be absorbed into the smc panels and potentially cause problems later if they are released under the new paint film.

If you have plans to pull and replace windows it would be best to pull them just prior to painting and dry fit your replacements prior to final prep and paint.

Prep what's there if it is sound. Remove only if adhesion or film condition is suspect.

My 2c

Todd Sullivan

Sully
77 royale
Seattle

On Sep 6, 2013, at 3:27 PM, Steve <quadracerx@aol.com> wrote:

>
>
> What is the best method of removing old paint on our GMC's?
>
> Sandblasting
> DA Sanding
> Aircraft Stripper
> OR?
>
> I don't know if my couch is original paint or not, but a long time body man friend told me that the best way to prep is to take it to metal then proceed as needed....
>
> I think Id rather do that than just "scuff and shoot". I have access to all 3 methods above so its a matter of what you think will work best?
>
> Thanks again...
>
> Steve
> --
> 75 26' GMC Glenbrook
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
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Sully 77 Royale basket case. Future motorhome land speed record holder(bucket list) Seattle, Wa.
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