Blast car media off paint strip

One of the big, time consuming jobs on any project vehicle unless you are building one from scratch with raw sheet metal is stripping off years of old paint, primer and anything else on the body panels. There are as many different ways to strip paint as there are types of paint to apply. Many times, especially with older projects, there may be multiple layers of primer, urethane, lacquer and enamels between the bare metal and the outside world. Knowing how to strip car paint is essential if you want to completely remove every old layer without damaging the metal beneath. Matt took an extra hood from a Chevrolet Monte Carlo that was a perfect example of this and used it to show the various mechanical, chemical and abrasive methods that Eastwood offers to take off old paints and primers.

While you may be able to apply a new coat of paint to your car the way it is, stripping the old paint off first will yield better results. This task takes time and effort, and several options are available. Wear a face mask, goggles and gloves for all methods to protect yourself, and choose the one that seems simplest for you. Step 1: Prep the car and work area. Put the car in a well-ventilated area and prep the area for the chemical stripping. Step 2: Remove accent pieces. Remove all accent pieces from the car, such as the chrome or rubber trim.

There are only a few ways to liberate metal from a veneer of paint—sanding, media blasting, scraping or chemical stripping. Which of those methods is best has sparked many, many debates, however. Sanding or scraping, with or without the aid of paint stripper, is the easiest for the home restorer.

Removing old paint from your car is a crucial step before you apply a fresh coat of paint. The new paint will stick better and last longer if there's no old paint beneath it. Having old paint professionally removed can be expensive, so you can save costs by stripping the paint yourself. If you bought your car new and know it only has 1 layer of paint, sandpaper should remove it all. Do several rounds of sanding with increasingly fine grits until you reach bare metal.