Tank Restore.....How to strip paint from a tank...and im DONE

[Kerick]

I attempted to redo my tank today and everything tht could go wrong did...I painted forks, hubs, rims w/o problems but my last thing is giving me alot. There was pitting on the tank so I took it off to redo and just primed and painted...I didnt think that was good enough so I found bondo and forgot to mix the hardener and it never hardened to then i had to razor blade all the bondo off and now its worse... How can I strip all the paint and everything off the tank? I tried sanding and wetsanding and both killed my sandpaper in 5-10 minutes. Thanks guys

[Pafrig]

Wire wheel.

[Kerick]

if i had one.....
i was thinking maybe oven cleaner or sandblast?

[leevarnado]

sandblast would be best

[Kerick]

ok thanks.

[Gearheadtom]

A decent quality 60, maybe 40 grit sandpaper?

[racerxxx]

Home depot Kleen Strip Aircraft remover--it's a jelly it will eat the paint away. That's the fastest most toxic way, breath deep (just kidding on the breath deep) Sandblast will work but you can warp the metal it's very abrasive, you could also take it to a media blaster that strips cars.

[saki160]

I attempted to redo my tank today and everything tht could go wrong did...I painted forks, hubs, rims w/o problems but my last thing is giving me alot. There was pitting on the tank so I took it off to redo and just primed and painted...I didnt think that was good enough so I found bondo and forgot to mix the hardener and it never hardened to then i had to razor blade all the bondo off and now its worse... How can I strip all the paint and everything off the tank? I tried sanding and wetsanding and both killed my sandpaper in 5-10 minutes. Thanks guys

Paint stripper..Spray it..let it sit for a few then spray it off(be sure nothing gets in the tank) It's the quickest and easiest way..Then wet sand it with 800 grit to make it smooth..wipe it down with a good degreaser then with a tact cloth..spray a couple of good coats of primer on it..wet sand it again wipe it back down then spray your color and clear coats.

[Kerick]

so i should go with the aircraft remover?

[saki160]

so i should go with the aircraft remover?

Yes definately..It strips it to bare metal in about 5 minutes..Ya just have to get it prepped and at least primer on it because it will start surface rusting quick..It does the exact same thing as taking hours sanding

[Kerick]

how do i keep the liquid on vthe tank?

[saki160]

Just buy it in a spray can and spray it on..MUCH easier.The paint will just fall off...Just wear rubber gloves and don't breath it

[RudeDog666]

I've also used aircraft remover paint stripper and I'll swear by it. Once you've used it it's all you'll ever use.:beer

[harryredtrike]

I attempted to redo my tank today and everything tht could go wrong did...I painted forks, hubs, rims w/o problems but my last thing is giving me alot. There was pitting on the tank so I took it off to redo and just primed and painted...I didnt think that was good enough so I found bondo and forgot to mix the hardener and it never hardened to then i had to razor blade all the bondo off and now its worse... How can I strip all the paint and everything off the tank? I tried sanding and wetsanding and both killed my sandpaper in 5-10 minutes. Thanks guys

you used bondo after paint?did i read that right?use a chemical stripper its cheap enough,and start over

[Kerick]

no sorry i typed that wierd there was pitting so i sanded, primed, painted then it didnt look good enought so i sanded it down again put bono on and didnt harden

[harryredtrike]

ok thats better,id still go with the chemical strip

[Kerick]

Ya im gonna grab some stripper tomorrow thanks for the help guys.

[harryredtrike]

make sure to wash the tank thoughly after the stripper is done

[Kerick]

wash with?

[85Tecate]

sandblast would be best

+1 Can never go wrong with sand blasting.

[Kerick]

Well I got it all of. Put the stripper on, rinsed it 10-15 min later. Then did it again around the edges. Have a pic of right after i washed it. and another pic of after i sanded it down. Right now its in primer and im waiting for it to dry so I can sand it again.

[MonroeMike]

That worked good.

[Kerick]

yeah it came off gooey...but it came off fine with a hose.... I did realize the stripper was a gel either it was pretty simple to keep on...

[stoney420]

did u end up using the aircraft stripper? is so, about how much does it cost? i still have a black big red that i need to make red again!

[Kerick]

I couldnt find the aircraft remover...But I found some stuff from the same brand name its called Klean Strip Premium stripper. Costed around 7 bucks...Are ya redoing the recovered big red?

[stoney420]

oh ok thanks, yea i still need to get the black paint off my big red that was stolen and spray bombed black, i tried gas on the overspray on the engine, it worked great where its lightly speckled on there but it didnt touch the thick stuff, been waiting on a buddy of mine who works at a "disaster kleenup" place and said he could get me some great "graffiti remover" free but im tired of waiting on him to actually do it so ill just go buy something..

[Kerick]

Good luck I really hope you are able to get it off... This stuff comes in a gel and it almost makes the paint the same gel texture and a hose gets most of it off but if you had a powerwasher it would be even easier than it already is.

[stoney420]

cool thanks for the tip. i may give that a shot if i cant find the aircraft stripper, just finding some options right now, maybe ill be able to get to it next weekend, will keep u updated on how it turns out.

[Thorpe]

The aircraft stripper will probably destroy plastic if you get it on there....

[Kerick]

The aircraft stripper will probably destroy plastic if you get it on there....

x2 on that its so powerful it started to surface rust after i washed it you gotta get right to sand and primer after you spray it

[stoney420]

The aircraft stripper will probably destroy plastic if you get it on there....

thanks thorpe, good to know!
so if its that strong i probably shouldnt use it on my motor? im not planning on painting the motor - just want to get the over spray off of it, any suggestions on something else to use? and any suggestions on what to use on the plastic?

[Kerick]

Well on my tank there were more than 2 layers so id say itd take the black plus the motor paint....idk anything tht would only take the top layer off but maybe someone on the boards does...

[Thorpe]

I had gotten road paint on the side of my black cherokee, and my painter recomended using easy off oven cleaner... Let it sit on the truck for 15 minutes and power wash off... Worked well... Didnt harm the base clear paint... (again, not sure what it would do to plastic) But I am willing to bet the motor was done with an enamel paint, but dont know for sure... Maybe one of the others will chime in about Honda's factory paints...

[saki160]

The aircraft stripper will probably destroy plastic if you get it on there....

It will eat the plastics up..They do make a stripper for plastics though..It works the same way it just wont eat the plastic..Same company makes it

[saki160]

cool thanks for the tip. i may give that a shot if i cant find the aircraft stripper, just finding some options right now, maybe ill be able to get to it next weekend, will keep u updated on how it turns out.

If ya can't find it anywhere WalMart carries it..And it's cheaper there...Oreilly Auto Parts carries the paint stripper for plastic

[Kerick]

Well I finished one pic is the final primer and the other is the final paint. Thanks guys for all the help.( especially Saki160)

[saki160]

Cool man!!!Glad ya got it done.It looks good

[Kerick]

Thanks...Howd your tank go? or didnt you get to it

[saki160]

Thanks...Howd your tank go? or didnt you get to it

Anytime.I didn't get to it today..I have had all of the prep work done for awhile and have just been riding it with the tank primered..I may be able to get it finished tomorrow if the wife holds off on the honey do's.lol
I'll post some pics when it's done

[Kerick]

ok good luck on it... ya post up some pics when your done

[saki160]

Thanks,will do

[MonroeMike]

That tank looks good.

[Kerick]

thanks Kike that glare that looks like a dent isnt a dent its a glare. The only 2 dents are on either side where the bars woujld hit but i just left then as they will just gte dented again and crack the paint

[RudeDog666]

Stoney,
You could try a product called Goof-Off. It's a great over spray remover and if your thicker stuff is cheap paint, which I think it might be, this stuff will take it off with a little scrubbing.

Sorry to hijack the thread.

[trikerooster]

I use a high speed wire brush on a drill. Rough then fine. It flings all that sh=t off, and smooths the surface in one step.