Paint stripper?

[purplechugster]

Is there such a thing as paint stripper for vans/cellulose paint?

Or am I asking a silly question?


When we painted our van, we made a bit of a boo-boo and used an anti-rust primer first but applied it by hand... then sprayed the top coat

So the problem is that a) you can see brush strokes b) the top coat has cracked (giving an almost but not quite groovy crazy paving effect).
Ive tried to sand it down but its still not coming out as nice as I'd like. There are portions where the primer/paint is much too thick and hence just turns into a gooey mess when I sand it.

So I was wondering whether its possible to use a paint stripper and take it all the way back to the metal, fix up any rusty bits, then give it a proper spray with primer before giving it the final top coats (purple again, obviously)

Or will my van just melt away if I put paint remover on it?

[Ivorblueun]

cellulose thinners but not very user friendly due to fumes, nitromorse do a selection of paint strippers whether they have one for cellulose based paints or not ? but if no one else has any suggestions I think I would find a local body shop and ask their advice first. have you got the whole van to do or just a panel or two? the top coat cracking sounds to me like the primer paint used was not compatible with cellulose top coat. I have had it happen to me but only on small area you think you are getting on so well then you get a kick in the b@!!$

[purplechugster]

but if no one else has any suggestions I think I would find a local body shop and ask their advice first.

Yup, I think for once I should work out whether its the right thing to do before starting

have you got the whole van to do or just a panel or two?

The whole van will be done, one way or another, but there are some panels which seem impossible to sand to a smooth finish so thats why I was thinking paint-stripper. If it works, I'd be tempted to do the lot.
Fortunately the hi-top is fine.

the top coat cracking sounds to me like the primer paint used was not compatible with cellulose top coat.

Yup. Sadly my hindsight is always more reliable than my foresight

Never mind, onwards and upwards... once Ive got this damn paint off!

[OLD ONE]

Invest in a cheep DA (random orbital sander) I think I have seen them on sale for as little as £30 this will solve most of your rubbing down problems, using a fine grade disc. A good going over with this, and then rub down with wet and dry, WET, will give something to lay your finish to .
WHAT EVER YOU BRUSH ON WILL ALWAYS SHOW BRUSH MARKS AFTER YOU SPRAY. UNLESS YOU FLAT IT DOWN COMPLETLY
Most anti rust compounds today will take normal primers and finishes

[Arvi]

at my friend body shopy they do loads of vans when they apply primer to repaired sections thay use a roller brush then spray on top coat dont see any marks through paint

he says you can even use roller for top coat to get a good smooth finish but for speed thay spray

[OLD ONE]

Must admit I have been out of body work for some time. Things must have improved. Well at least the material have improved.
When I get round to paint my bus I will be doing it the old fashion way. The only way I know how.

[Big Al]

You could get a HPLV from Argos. (get the type that has a big vacuum cleaner blower thing) and they will spray pretty much anything. I got reasonable results with filler primer

Careful not to get nitromors on your skin, burns like a sod!

[purplechugster]

I've got a compressor, airgun etc... putting the paint on isnt a problem - its getting it off!!!

[purplechugster]

I got reasonable results with filler primer

Filler primer? Is that like a primer... that fills...? And could maybe fill in the gaps between the cracks without taking the van back to the metal? That'd be good....

[CovKid]

Yep. personally i find it hard going trying to blend body filler without primer filler on top. It goes on kind of 'fluffy' enabling you to sand back easily.

As for rust, you can put a halt to it to some extent with a good rust treatment but you do need to remove any loose stuff (this can take a while) and treat BOTH sides of the affected panel to really get a bite on it. I use a rust treatment designed for canal barges as I figure if its ok in a watery environment it should sort any patches on my van. Also handy to have around to reduce spread of rust as a spot treatment on any patches that emerge. The stuff I use leaves a protective coating on it.

Its a great solution to rust patches that appear around seams as it sinks in quite well and gives you breathing space until you can get in there and do the job properly. I'd be inclined to agree that cutting out rust is the best way to get rid of it but whatever you do, steel LIKES to revert to a rusty state given oxygen and moisture. As a body shop guy once said to me - nothing lasts forever. An optimistic chap eh.

[OLD ONE]

Talking from experience (from years ago) most paints shrink. If you use primer filler to fill cracks or crazing it will eventually show through. Unless they have improved the materials one hell of a lot in the time that I have been out of the finishing trade

[purplechugster]

most paints shrink.

Yup, thats what appears to have happened to mine!

I'd assumed it was 'cos it wasnt compatible with the primer

So at the moment Im left with a van that looks great from a distance, but up close you can see brush marks from the primer, but even where we managed to get it smooth its gone all 'crazy paving'.

Also it never got properly glossy - I realise its not going to be like a brand new rolls royce, but it was glossy at all. The only bits that are properly glossy are some places where I touched it up with a paint brush. Sorta stands out that.

So Im left with
a) Take off all the paint, back to the metal, with paint stripper.
b) Take off all the paint with a sander (tricky. It goes gloopy and leaves a horrible swirly mess)
c) fill the cracks with a filler primer (hmmm, my van would be getting bigger)
d) forget it, or pay someone else to do it.

At the moment Ive still got some enthusiasm left, but (d) is always an option

[OLD ONE]

purplechugster Forget the sander you are using. Unless it is a very good one. Treat your self to Random Orbit Sander I have seen them in Wicks quite cheep The square ones always leave circles.
With regards to your crazing it may be damp, this also may be your prob with lack of gloss. I take it you sprayed. Have you got a filter in your line?
Most damp problems come from the compressor. as you compress air, it extracts water, because as you know, you cant compress water. This then stores up in your tank. As you start to spray with compressor running it sucks up vapor, and spits it out as water.
Me, I would have another go. A good rub down, with R.O.S. to solid paint, a good prime, W&D all over . Then 3to4 coats of quality paint. Fine wet rub between each coat, and thinning the paint a little more on each coat.
If you have a good compressor get a air sander far better than electric

[CovKid]

I guess its the 'stodge' thats driving you nuts. You could try a blowlamp type thing on those areas and see if that helps any? If its soft filler you'll just have to rake it out unfortunately. Nitromos is best bet if you want to strip it providing you make sure it is completely removed afterwards - it drips too so ensure you cover anything you don't want stripped.

You might consider the roller paint finish I'm doing at the moment as the paint goes over anything and everything on the vehicle but not on walls etc. see thread:

http://www.club80-90.co.uk/forum/viewto ... e&start=15

[purplechugster]

Treat your self to Random Orbit Sander I have seen them in Wicks quite cheep

Thats my next plan!

Have you got a filter in your line?

Ah, no.... didnt realise we needed one. I'll look into that too!

If you have a good compressor get a air sander far better than electric

Ive got a 'fairly' good compressor which should run an air ROS (Ive got one of those too) but itsnt quite up to the job

I think the plan now is to get a leccy ROS, and to paint strip the really repulsive bits. Then put the hard work into the W&Ding!

As for the primer - any recommendations for using with compressor and then cellulose-based paint?



Thanks everyone! All suggestions greatly appreciated