If you want to strip, your best bet is early morning or a nice shady spot. Then again, it is kinda fun sanding.
strip or blast?
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Junior User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 54
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From: Polson, Montana
strip or blast?
Can anybody tell me if it's better to have my truck blasted or chemically stripped? Which is faster? Which is cheaper? Can I do either myself? I know nothing of body work or painting. I want good results but would like to do some of the work myself as I have done everything mechanical to the truck and would hate not to be somewhat involved in the body/paint end of it. Please help, O' Wise and Generous Ford Men!
Logistics Pro
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 4,701
Likes: 6
Hey, that sounds like my tune! I got all the mechanical work done, and started on the body work. I bought chemical stripper and did that, and have done the sanding thing too. I like the chemical, but it seems to be finicky about the temperature outside. The sanding makes your hands numb. If you are going to have someone else do it, I say go for the chemical stripper. It will get into every corner and clean it out. Good luck, and get some pics up when you can, Ted
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 999
Likes: 1
From: Willamette Valley Oregon
<cr>
Personally, I don't like either one.
I find chemical stripping messy. I also have concerns about the possibilty of having the stripper damage the new paint.
I've had one car blasted (a soda/walnut shell mix). I won't do that again. I ended up with a damaged hood and was removing walnut shells months later.
32 grit on a sanding disk. After the paint is gone, I finish with 80 grit on a DA sander.
Personally, I don't like either one.
I find chemical stripping messy. I also have concerns about the possibilty of having the stripper damage the new paint.
I've had one car blasted (a soda/walnut shell mix). I won't do that again. I ended up with a damaged hood and was removing walnut shells months later.
32 grit on a sanding disk. After the paint is gone, I finish with 80 grit on a DA sander.
Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,587
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From: Virginia Beach
My truck was a ugly burgundy color before I painted it. I chemically stripped the ENTIRE truck. But I chemically strip furniture with my father all the time, so I know alot of the tricks if you run into any problems. Just make sure the area is well ventilated, and is around 75-80 degrees. Any hotter, and the stripper dries to fast, any cooler, and it gels up and won't spread. Also, make sure you use the NON water wash up stripper, Kleen-strip is a really good one. One last tip, if you apply several thin coatings instead of a thick one, you can take the paint off in layers, right on up to the factory primer(which by the way, is difficult to remove even with stripper) and prep that for painting.
Good luck
P.S. A big plus to stripping, is you can do the whole truck, or the side/panel/section or even spot strip as needed.
Good luck
P.S. A big plus to stripping, is you can do the whole truck, or the side/panel/section or even spot strip as needed.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 4,701
Likes: 6
Yeah, I did one panel at a time. It worked great while it was nice outside. Now that it is about the temp of hells front yard, it doesn't strip so well. That is why I am sanding, and enjoying the dust stuck to my sweat. Oh, what fun. The neighbors think I am wierd 
Logistics Pro
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 4,701
Likes: 6
Yeah, I have done the morning thing. Once it gets too hot, then I switch to sanding. The smaller panels weren't too bad, but now I have switched to the bed which, by comparison, is HUGE. Not enough time. I just keep picking away, since it is supposed to be fun to work on your truck, not a hassle. 
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