DIY: How to Strip Car Paint for Restoration
To get that old coat of paint off your car quickly and without spending hours working a sander, turn to chemical stripping. The chemical stripper will remove most of the paint from your car, though you'll have to clean up a few areas with a razor or scraper. Once your car is down to bare metal, apply a coat of primer to protect it. If left at the metal stage, your car can rust quickly.
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Things You'll Need
- Tarp
- Masking tape
- Newspaper
- 2 empty coffee cans
- 2 paintbrushes
- Chemical stripper
- Plastic scraper
- 40-grit sandpaper
- Lacquer thinner
Instructions
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1
Lay a tarp out in your garage. Drive your car onto the tarp. This will catch any chemical spills and make your cleanup easier.
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2
Tape off areas of the car that don't need chemical stripping, using masking tape and newspaper. Cover the windshield, windows, tires, fender and other areas in this manner.
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3
Apply a coat of chemical stripper to your car. using a paintbrush. Pour chemical stripper into a disposable container such as an old coffee can. Coat the car's body with the chemical stripper. Wait the recommended amount of time for your chemical stripper to work, following the manufacturer's recommendation.
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4
Scrape the chemical stripper and old paint off your car with a plastic scraper at the end of the waiting time. Drag the plastic scraper across your car, with your hand held at a 45- to 70-degree angle to the car. The paint and chemical stripper should flake off.
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5
Scrub any areas that still have paint with 40-grit sandpaper. This should remove leftover paint.
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6
Apply a coat of lacquer thinner to remove any traces of chemical stripper, using a fresh paintbrush. Remove the masking tape. Your car is ready for sanding and priming.
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Tips & Warnings
Wear industrial-duty rubber gloves, safety glasses that provide wrap-around protection, and a respirator mask for this project.
Discard the coffee can and paintbrush from your chemical stripper, as well as the tarp underneath your vehicle.
