Traditional Sanding vs Media Blasting vs Airplane Stripper

[bwjohn]

Hello All,

    Planning out my strategy for restoring my '73 and wondering what the thoughts are on removing the paint.  I have found these 3 options in my research and wonder what other thoughts are here from people who have done Bronco's.

any info appreciated,

brandon

 

[Rons beast]

Hey BWJ,

If you want to know which of the 3 your posted in your headline is best, first some questions must be answered.

What shape is the body in now?

How much rust is there?

Do you have to do any welding/ panel replacement?

Are you doing a color change?

The primary job of paint is to protect the metal. For that reason I and others in the autobody community believe that paint that is in good shape does not have to be removed to have a great paint job.  If it is not pealing, bubbling, cracked, or covering rust or damage the original paint can be sanded and sealed.

For that reason I like the idea of just sanding, and removing only the paint that has to be removed for a repair or because of a problem.

The other issue would be compatibility with the new paint.  The manufacturer can guide you on this front.  Of course lacquers don't work with enamels underneath, however when aged and sealed there often isn't a problem.  

If there is a paint incompatibility problem, then all of the paint should be removed.  The only way I would do this is media blasting. Sanding an entire body is just too time consuming.  

I do not like strippers.  ( the kind that remove paint!)  If it runs into nooks and crannies it can be a problem later on.  I just avoid them altogether.

Finally I highly recommend that you get sealer, primer and paint from the same manufacturer that is compatible so as not to have problems.  Also use high quality fillers and glazes that won't react with the paint products and cause problems with the final paint.

And last... be clean!   Dust, oils from our bodies, hair, lint can all cause a flaw in the final product.

Good Luck and show us pics as you go.    

 

[Seabronc]

It all depends on what you are trying to accomplish with the finished paint job.  

The ultimate paint job, show finish, requires taking the surface down to bare metal.  For a show vehicle, and if you are not professional, I'd leave that to a shop that has a paint booth and the proper equipment.

An amateur can do a real nice looking paint job if he/she takes their time and does some research on how to paint a vehicle.

Stripper is a mess to work with and if it drys before you get it off, it is harder to get off on a second pass.  It is costic and can be real harmful to your health.  It must be done in a well ventilated area.

With media blasting you can get every nook and cranny but requires special equipment and safety gear.   Depending on where you live, you may be having some problems with your neighbors over the dust unless you keep it contained.

Sanding the existing finish is labor intensive but can produce a real nice job.  You need to take care of any rust issues.  You need to identify "surface rust" vs "the top of the iceberg rust".  Any exposed surface needs to be treated with a rust inhibitor before prime and paint.  Serious rust needs to be removed even if you have to cut out a section and replace the metal, which also requires learning a set of skills.  

In all cases body filler and sanding is necessary to eliminate small irregularities in the surface.  The finish look is all in the preparation work done prior to painting. Of the three methods, I'd recommend that sanding, especially if you are going to do it your self. To get a real great job is going to personally cost you in equipment, labor hours, mistakes, learning curve. Otherwise, consider having a paint shop do it for you.  

Good luck with your project,

>-

This truck was done with the sanding method at home.  Only going to exposed surface where absolutely necessary.  There was a year of body preparation and priming/wet sanding work prior to painting, and after painting a bunch of wet sanding and buffing.  Time and patience is the key. It has always received positive comments from professional body/paint shop people.

Click the link below to see a glimpse of the body work done prior to paint.  Look under "Body Work 2009 - 2010"

 

[genthree]

Another question that must be answered is, are you going to do it yourself or write a check?  

I just finished sanding down a 73' with 6 coats of finish on it.  I used a combination of Aircraft stripper and fiber disk sanding pads.  On big surfaces without rough edges and hard corners the fiber sanding pads worked great on a 4-1/2" angle grinder.  When it comes to the corners and hard edges I used the brush on aircraft stripper and wire brushes or wire wheels on a drill.  I even stripped the inside of the tub in this fashion.....

Couple of thoughts.....

1)  Take the bronco apart first.....  to do it right, it needs to be done.  (Hood, doors, tailgate, top, grill, flares, emblems, tire carrier, bumpers, I didn't take off the fenders, but wish I would have.)

2)  If you share the space with your significant other, do ALOT of plastic on all surfaces in the garage.  It took me about a month to strip and prime and I still haven't got all of the sanding debris off the surfaces....

3)  Get a foreign exchange student who loves old cars, mine was 17 and from Russia.  He did a BUNCH of sanding.

4)  Find a Harbor Freight tool store and buy about 10 of the fiber sanding pads and an angle grinder.  

5) Aircraft stripper at Walmart works well. You will need about 2 of those and about 5 spray cans of the same....  Spray cans don't work as well, but in some spots they are necessary.  

Seabronc makes a very good point about stripper, it dries and you really don't want it to.  So only apply as much as you can work on at one time.  Take your time and have fun.

When you get ready to paint let me know and I have some tips on that as well.....   Yes you can!!!

 

[Seabronc]

Another question that must be answered is, are you going to do it yourself or write a check?  

I just finished sanding down a 73' with 6 coats of finish on it.  I used a combination of Aircraft stripper and fiber disk sanding pads.  On big surfaces without rough edges and hard corners the fiber sanding pads worked great on a 4-1/2" angle grinder.  When it comes to the corners and hard edges I used the brush on aircraft stripper and wire brushes or wire wheels on a drill.  I even stripped the inside of the tub in this fashion.....

Couple of thoughts.....

1)  Take the bronco apart first.....  to do it right, it needs to be done.  (Hood, doors, tailgate, top, grill, flares, emblems, tire carrier, bumpers, I didn't take off the fenders, but wish I would have.)

2)  If you share the space with your significant other, do ALOT of plastic on all surfaces in the garage.  It took me about a month to strip and prime and I still haven't got all of the sanding debris off the surfaces....

3)  Get a foreign exchange student who loves old cars, mine was 17 and from Russia.  He did a BUNCH of sanding.

4)  Find a Harbor Freight tool store and buy about 10 of the fiber sanding pads and an angle grinder.  

5) Aircraft stripper at Walmart works well. You will need about 2 of those and about 5 spray cans of the same....  Spray cans don't work as well, but in some spots they are necessary.  

Seabronc makes a very good point about stripper, it dries and you really don't want it to.  So only apply as much as you can work on at one time.  Take your time and have fun.

When you get ready to paint let me know and I have some tips on that as well.....   Yes you can!!!

Looking Goooud!!!  

>-

 

[genthree]

Thanks.  I have had it back on the road about a month trying to get everything working perfectly.  Since I am not a mechanic or electrician or motorhead or welder, everything that has been done of the truck is suspect.  We did all the work ourselves and I am getting pretty comfortable with it now and getting ready to turn the keys over to my kids (17 yr old male) for a summer driver.  I am thinking I will wait till I get the doors done though....