I am trying to remove the paint from my top irons. All the strippers so far have not touched the lacquer. Any ideas would be appreciated.

Lacquer Thinner should dissolve lacquer. It is my understanding that you could theoretically scrape lacquer off a car, thin it with lacquer thinner and paint it on again. In theory anyway.

Are you sure it is lacquer? The original Ford paint was baked enamel. VERY tough stuff.

Let the strippers go back to their club.
How 'bout some form of media blasting?

Cost to sandblast = $100.00. nuff said!

What types of paint strippers have you tried?

Since your Profile doesn't have a location, It's hard to suggest a stripper that may be available to you. I have some commercial stripper that will take any type of paint off in about 15 seconds and remove cured powder coat in about 30 seconds. But it will remove skin in the same range of time too. It's probably not available to you.

One option that works well is Permatex Gasket Remover. It comes in a spray can. It's stronger than most paint removers available to the public but you can get it at any auto parts store.

Try the orange citrus stripper and put the parts in a plastic bag overnight.

Forgot to mention: Permatex has two types of remover. DO NOT get the "Low VOC" remover. It sucks!

Spray gasket remover from NAPA will lift the old Ford paint. Years ago I believe from smelling and using it the old label called it decal remover. Guessing some EPA rule forced a name change

Tried Kleenstrip, Lacquer thinner. Will try the Permatex.

Instead of the home supply places, go to a professional boat supply place or a professional body work supply place such as C.A.R.S. and get a gallon of Marine or Aviation quality paint stripper. They are the strongest they make and will remove even the toughest epoxies. Any paint stripper needs time to work and possibly several coats. Let it do the work. Best to apply a thick coat at the end of the day and let it work overnight while you sleep. Jim Patrick

The locally available "airplane" stripper does take off everything. We get it at paint stores that carry automotive finnishes.

Funny you should mention that. I bought some "Airplane" stripper and was not to happy with the results. The back of the can says "Do Not Use On Aircraft". Funny!

Just tried the Permatex Gasket Revmover, that is some bad a$$ stuff. The finish almost slides off when you spray it on. This stuff rocks.

This thread is not what I was expecting.

Ivan,

Buy plenty of that Permatex Spray Gasket Remover. The last time I tried to buy some at Advance Auto Parts, I found it in the "Clearance" bin and so I bought both cans.

It IS impressive paint remover.

Seth

Seth is right. Permatex may be trying to shift everyone to the "Low VOC" gasket remover pretty quick. It's a move nearly all Mfgs. are making. I keep a few cans around for Removing Gaskets. (Imagine that!) I better go see if I can still find it.

You can't buy R141 A/C flush any more either but I have a good stock of it sand-bagged away. It was used as a solvent in many electronics cleaners too. The EPA is always taking away the products that work the best.

I like the nasty paint removers. If they say that they will remove epoxy I have had good luck with them. One tip to keep it moist is to use moistened paper towels (w/ stripper) and cover the part and let it sit. This keeps the stripper from evaporating so fast and allows it to work better.

I have had pretty good luck (depending on what I am doing) with carb cleaner removing paint. Even when I don’t want the paint removed.

I know from many years ago that brake fluid takes off paint. Tomatoes do also, just not as fast.

He He,

Mike,

I apologize for this but I was raised in Texas and we knew the difference between Stripers and Strippers....... even if both smelled like fish.

Paul

I have been using the following product and have found that it outstrips all other strippers!! It's a 3M product and I purchased it from O'Reilly Auto Parts in Washington State. The product is called: Mar-Hyde Tal-Strip Extra Strength Remover aerosol can #2811 ($5.99) Quart #2812 ($12.99) They also have aircraft coating remover aerosol # 3711, they are both very good products.

Ivan;

Media Blasting is the best;

Richard Henza Historical Vintage Association

Is it really necessary that the old paint come off?

It doesn't appear that this lacquer is exactly falling off. Why not just leave the existing paint there, sand it down nicely, prime & paint?

I am a perfectionist, da paints gotta come off, I wanna see da metal. I wanna remove paint, sand, prime, paint, stand back and say "Damn I'm good".

You be da man!

I have had great luck with the 6" soft wire brush wheel available at our favorite "cheap seats" hardware store . . . . read that as "freight". It is $6.98 and you get a 20 percent off coupon in any automobile magazine and they give you the coupon back when you leave the store. Only one item per coupon so you keep going in and out of the door and to another cash register each time . . . . . Model T guys are cheap and I have learned well from them.

I mounted it on a "Kenmore" electric motor from a washing machine on a pedistal made from a rear axle housing. Talk about being cheap . . . . .


That wire brush took all of the paint off of the 1913 Headlights and accessory lamps as well as the carbide generator and the other little bolt on thingies. We don't need no stinking bead blaster and cabinet.

LOL! I use the crap out of a wire wheel (from Cheap Seats) also but I'd sure love a media blast cabinet. Maybe Santa will bring me one this year if I'm a good boy.

May the rama-lama-ding-dong be upon you if you speak poorly about my favorite tool store. Good value, good stuff and certainly the only place I get mail from. Gotta love those coupons.

Speaking of a blast cabinet, I just acquired one from Godzilla Freight, works great, would be better if it were 5' long.

Ivan-
With the amount of "clacking around" top irons get, I decided to have mine powdercoated. The powdercoater's first step is to strip off the old paint. They came back beautiful and after 20 + years, there is not one single chip in them.

: ^ )

Keith

Keith: Did you have to take out the wooden inserts?

Well I went looking for the Permatex Gasket remover this morning, seems like I bought the last can in town. I did buy Mar-Hyde Tal-Strip Extra Strength Remover aerosol from O'Reilly and it works better than the Permatex! I am becoming an expert in strippers, bada-bada-boom!

Thanks for the heads up on the paint removers. I'm going shopping tomorrow!

My favorite method of paint removal is to drop it off at the local American Metal Cleaning! they'll even powder coat stuff while it's there if I ask them.

I'm not sure what they use to remove the paint, but my model T gas tank came back sparkling clean inside and out, even with the baffles blocking access. It also had a protective coating on it to prevent flash rust, just had to rinse it off with water or pre-paint.

As far as "cheap seats", I've got cabinets full of their tools.....lifetime guarantee, you can't beat that, at a fraction of the cost of "America's hardware store".
I see their stuff all the time at the flea market selling for more than the retail price!!!
I don't know how many sets of "free" screwdrivers and other stuff they send me coupons for I have...they make great gifts!

Ivan-
My top bows were bare. After I powdercoated then I did the wood work.
-Keith