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Triumph TR6 - Removing undercoating

Hello all,
Any recommendations on removing 34 year old undercoating? I have done the following:
1)Scrape with chisels and screw drivers
2)Propane torch with scraper

The first one works on flat surfaces but gouges the metal and occasionally the hammer misses the end of the chisel and ends up hitting my wrists.
The second method works faster but you must keep the heat on or it solidfies quickly, the fumes are nasty and the heat can start a fire someplace else.

Is there a chemical that loves to eat this stuff but won't kill me in 10 years?
Thanks,
Tom
Tom C

Tom,

Here's a link to an auto body Bulletin Board that I visited frequently when I was doing the body work on my TR. They have some professional body people that contribute regularly and I'm sure they have run accross this nasty undercoating removal problem. It's probably covered in their archives as well.

This link takes you to their "Classroom". From there click on "Discussion page". Let me know if you find something there.

Henry

http://autobodystore.com/class.htm
HP Henry Patterson

Tom
When I removed the same junk from the engine bay I used a chemical called TOLUENE (sp).
It eats undercoating for breakfast. My body was off the car so I simply sprayed on the Toluene then high pressure washed it off. It evaporates very quickly.

Now the good part. Wear protective clothing, wear a face shield, where a breathing mask, wear gloves. Under no circumstances work with this stuff in an enclosed environment. No open fires. Do not use when the run off will fall onto an asphalt drive way.

I think you can get it at home depot.

Rick
Rick Crawford

Hi Henry,
Here is a wire stripper that Auotbodystore.com recommended:
http://autobodystore.net/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=DFXDX701&Category_Code=
You're right, that is a cool site and I have plenty to learn since I intend to paint this thing at some time in the next year.

Hey Rick, I'm at the Home Desperate at least once a week so I will check this stuff out and put a down payment on a space suit.
Thanks guys,
TC
Tom C

http://www.eastwood.com has a spray on undercoating removal product that might be what you're looking for.
PeterK

Tom,

That stripper tool looks nice..except a little expensive. Those chemical strippers might be the answer.

You can ask any body work question on there and you'll get an answer from people that do a lot of that work. When I stripped the 7 layers of paint off my car I tried a chamical stripper and hated it. It was really gooey and of course nasty smelling. I found that BB site and asked questions about paint stripping and found that most people use an electric polisher/sander with aggressive grit sandpaper. That worked much better for me.

Good luck

Henry
HP Henry Patterson

Tom,
What worked well for me was to use a dulled wood chisel and a mallet where I could and yes, occasionally I suffered a nick here and there into the paint, but since I'm going to soda blast the metal, that did not bother me too much. After I chipped most of the asphalt away, I discovered the wonder tool, WD-40 simply ate the remaining tough spots. Get a case of paper towls, the heavy shop kind, a large can of WD-40, spray liberally and wipe clean. Takes it all off right down to the metal. See image of my wing well attached for results. Good luck.
db

Doug Baker

I have had luck with methylene chloride type paint and adhesive strippers, VERY messy and smelly, but it works. The adhesive stripper is a hardware store product designed for removing linoleum adhesives from floors (also called "cutback" adhesive). There is also an auto parts store product called aircraft and marine stripper that works fairly well. Try not to use a torch, the fumes from the old undercoating are toxic as hell.
Al Christopher
A R Christopher

Thanks Al for the suggestion.
Doug - our cars are pointed in the same direction only your garage is cleaner.
Do I spot a table cloth in there? Looks like your working in the dining room.
TC
Tom C

Tom,
First Rod Nichols notices the curtain over the window and you see a table cloth. My wife would very much diagree that my garage is clean. If you're talking about the item to the rear of the Triumph, what you see is the cover for the leaf mulcher.

I try to clean my tools after each use and do whatever maintenance (sharpening, tightening etc.) is needed so that they're ready to go the next time needed. For the larger tools, (drill press, table saw, lawn mower,etc.) that includes a cover usually fashioned from an old sheet or pillow case. A couple of tucks here and there and you have a custom cover to protect against dust, debris etc.

I've thought about installing a floor covering, but I'm thinking that y'all would not let me live it down:) There are catch pans under each car however!! Can't stand an oil leak.
db
Doug Baker

I used this stuff http://www.bluelightningproducts.com/category/restoration/

Works fast and great. Let me also echo what Rick said about the protective gear!

Chris
Chris

This thread was discussed between 03/06/2007 and 05/06/2007

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