body tools, and paint removal, need info

[NHRedneck]

im getting ready to start on my 79 f150 and im looking into a couple of things right now to have for the project. right now im looking into getting a "crud thug" from either snap on or mac, but i dont have an unlimited air supply (only have a 5hp 13 gallon compressor) and was wondering how well they work. do they tear up the metal after stripping the paint off?? also does anyone make an electric version??? that would def help me be more productive, as i wouldnt be stopping every 5-10 min to let the compressor recharge. so far ive tried using my angle grinder with a sanding pad on it, and it worked relatively fast, but it last some deep swirl marks which i had to use alot of roloc cookies to sand the fender smooth enough to put primer on, and im not about to buy a thousand cookies to touch up 1/2 of the truck....

also ive been looking into a body saw. i know ie got some panels (floors, body mounts ect) that im gonna have to cut out and do some repair work on... and i was wondering if i should spend the big $ and buy one from one of the tool guys or should i just buy the craftsman or el cheapo 20$ one from harbor freight???? i looked and tried to find an electric one, but all i could find was air. if anyone knows of an electric body saw please let me know.

last but not least, i wanted some input on using liquid paint stippers. what works well, what is crap, where to buy and how to apply. ive heard of using aircraft paint stripper for fast removing, but ive heard its hell to work with....

any input on any of these things would be well appreciated.....

[sceep]

body tools, paint removal

the only tool you need.


http://www.kielsandandgravel.com/images/STONE%20LG/BOULDER%20GRANITE.JPG

:flipoff2:

[NHRedneck]

well thats the plan, except in order to get the truck road legal im gonna need a lil bit of help, once its road legal and safe, and body damage from trails is staying unless effects the way the truck performs....

[PAToyota]

Shop and tools forum?

[NHRedneck]

if there was a paint and body forum i would have put it there....

[NHRedneck]

anyone have any advice???

[De Ranged]

Run a finer grit on your sanding disk or better yet flap disks, they don't clog up like sanding disks do.... another option would be 3M rust pads they peel out paint, bog, rust hell they'll even take off underseal!:shaking: but they're for rich fokes
As for your saw, just buy some 1mm (thin) cut off disks for your grinder.... especially if your doing big pannels the saw will distort the edge of the cut or worse yet catch it and bend it, saws work alright if you've got lots of corners and angles to brace the work

Cheers Reece

[Aces'n'8s]

I've used Aircraft quality (whatever that means) from Kleen Strip with excellent results. IMO, you need to plan ahead...this entails having the right tools i.e. scrapers, putty knives, gloves, respirator, fan, brushes, solvent to clean up the aftermath, and of course, the stripper.

Apply the stripper in small sections. Doing this will allow you to remove the paint just as it "flashes" and ensure a quality job. The last thing you want is stripped paint to harden back up before you can scrape it off. If it does this, it has the consistency of Rhino lining and is about as tough.

Likewise, chemical paint strippers will turn any body filler into bubble gum.

Also, be mindful of your eyes, lungs, and exposed skin. Take proper precautions.

[javelinpr]

ive seen that chemical strippers are a mess to work with.

i would suggest the da sander which is the most efficient method beside having someone do it(sandblasting or tank dipping).

i guess you can pull it off with your grinder and finer disks(as mentioned before).

or as always has been, you can strip it by hand with lots of sandpaper, that would be cheaper. :flipoff2:

for cutting any of the cheapos from Hf will do the job. cut off or body saw.

[AthlonAJ]

I'm deciding if I want to redo an older waggy I have. Planning on using liquid stripper for the larger areas that are mostly flat, get the bulk of the paint off that way. Then go back and DA the rest. I'd rather have just a huge shop with a booth dedicated for media blasting but I haven't won the lotto just yet.

[NHRedneck]

i would love to have it all medie blasted but im friggen 19 and a beginning automotive tech right now, and i have alot of my start up expenses (the tool men own me) and im trying to be doing quality work also..... so it looks like i will be using the aircraft stripper, as ventilation wont be an issue ( im going to be doing 95% of the work outside as the truck wont fit in my garage) i guess for touch up ill have to use the finer grit sanding pads for my angle grinder and some cookies for my die grinderl.... anyone know where i can buy a bulk pack of assorted grit cookies??? i know they come in atleast 3 diff styles. also how long after i strip the paint am i able to spray down my primer??? since im going to be outside im hoping to strip one area, then shoot the primer the same day so that i dont have to worry about dew setting and starting rust the next day....

[The Joker]

I always hated using stripper, I much preferred 40/80 grit on a grinder. I would replace the body panels first so you don't have it sitting around with bare metal. Do your body work strip the rest and get a good catalyzed high build primer lay on 3 good thick coats and let it sit for a while. Guide coat it (fog black paint) and start block sanding with 180. Prime again block again repeat until purdy. Wet sand 320 paint.

[NHRedneck]

there is no way that im gonna block sand the entire truck a couple times FUCK THAT. i will try and get my ass on a D/A sander to do most of the "final sanding"but i have a small compressor...so its gonna be tough

[Damo]

I was told a method of using stripper that makes using it a LOT cleaner than the normal brush on/scrape off deal. Basically you brush it on in sections and leave it for a few minutes, then lay plastic wrap (the kind you wrap food with) over it and smooth it down. Leave it for 20 minutes or so then peel off carefully. With some practive you can just peel off all the paint, undercoat etc in one strip and put it straight in the bin. It works very well I am told, and sure beats sanding for hours!!!

As for sanders, go with an electric over the air version, air compressors are really inefficient in that regard.

[dkc1657]

Hey I think I was in the same situation as you, I needed to do body work but with lots of time but limited funds. I would have loved to buy a huge compressor, plasma cutter and all the stuff I need but thats not going to happen.

Anyways, as for a body saw, overall I like using an electric reciprocating saw. An 4.5-5" angle grinder with a cutting disc is great for making straight cuts. My experience is that those hand-held air-hacksaws (the ones that buzzzzzz) are useless. They consume a lot of air and jam up too often. I should also mention that I broke down and bought a plasma cutter. It's awesome but for cutting out old body panels, a plasma cutter won't cut through fibreglass, bondo or carpet. Plus a plasma cutter is like $2000 compared to a $100 recipro saw.

As for stripping old paint, I'm not saying this is the right way of doing things but I didn't see the need to strip off every inch of paint - especally if there wasn't a problem with that area. I went out and bought a used Hutchins air board sander and used random orbital and used them to remove as much paint as possible. Anything paint and filler that was left behind I just didn't worry about it and primed over it. I've gotta say that those two tools - an air board sander and random orbital sander are like needed and there seems to be an ample supply of used tools.

And as for scratching the bare metal - I wouldn't worry too much about it. Just use a good filler / high build primer.

Check out some of my paint / body stuff:

http://81tsb.tripod.com/Templates/tech_box_sides.htm