Topic: removing factory paint from gas tank

[gregwaits]

Does anyone have some tips re: stripping factory paint off a gas tank? I have been using a citrus non-toxic paint stripper to pretty good success...at least on the top of the tank. The paint on the sides is proving more stubborn.

I have gotten the tank down to bare metal on the top.

Should I switch to a stronger stripper or should I be using a grinder at this point? I don't want to mar or scratch the metal surface.

[736cc]

Zip-strip works if you let it sit a while, agitate w/ some steel wool. If theres any bondo, a blow torch melts it out ez.

[eurban]

Although it is nasty stuff, Aircraft Stripper (typical auto store will have it) will take off just about any paint.   Works much more quickly than the safe stuff but protect your skin, eyes and lungs.

[WJL75]

Ditto on the Zip Strip.  I've used it a couple of times and it works quite well.

[Blaize]

I did this last weekend and I also used zip strip. Juat like you It got the top just about bare but the sides not so much. I ended up using a scotch brite pad on a drill to do the sides. Worked great and damn near polished the metal underneath

[xtalon]

I used Strtoeeze by Savogran (Ace Hardware) and it worked pretty good.  I think it took 4 trys.  I put it on, let it sit for 20 minutes and then went at it with a metal scrapper.  I had to remove a paint job that was over the factory paint (including the factory stickers... yes, even the Wear a Helmet type sticker in front of the filler hole).

Once I got off what I could with the stripper, I wiped it down w/ paint thinner, let it dry and then sanded w/ 150 and 100 grit sandpaper and also used a stainless steel brush.

Did a little more sanding w/ some 220 I think.  I also used a stainless steel wire wheel on my drill to remove a couple places that were trying to rust. Not saying this is the best way, but it worked for me.

Oh yeah, I also removed the spraybomb paint job off of the GL1000 forks, hence why it's included in the picture.

--xTalon

[BobbyR]

You can increase the effectiveness of any stripper by covering the part tightly in plastic sheet or tin foil overnight. I learned this from custom painters. It keeps the volatiles from out gassing and allows them to work on the paint longer.

[Gordon]

Although it is nasty stuff, Aircraft Stripper (typical auto store will have it) will take off just about any paint.   Works much more quickly than the safe stuff but protect your skin, eyes and lungs.

I'll second the aircraft stripper.  Used it to strip my 550 tank and the paint was falling off after about 30 seconds.

[masonryman]

the aircraft stripper is some good stuff and if you do get it on you cold water neutralizes it very quickly.

As for the torch to the bondo I would stick to the grinder for that, heat on sheet metal is a bad idea unless you are looking to take up body work, the heat will warp and swell the sheet metal.

Mark

[jabbadeznuts]

Aircraft stripper

[Gordon]

Aircraft stripper

Sorry Jabba, but that's not a special kind of stewardess you get in first class.

[Patrick]

I use Aircraft sripper. It works very weel. The paint cmes off i sheets. It's also great for taking off old powdercoat. After an application of Aircraft stripper, powdercoat will come off with a toothbrush.

Patrick

[wesniles]

AIRCRAFT STRIPPER!
i worked  in a shop restoring classic cars and all we ever used was aircraft stripper. its really nasty if u get it on your skin and eats right thru latex gloves, so if u do use it put on a couple pairs of the blue butyl gloves.  it does take off any thing you can throw at it, even light coats of bondo and glass fillers.

[drlarryw]

For a non-chemical alternative.....I've used a round, medium grit sanding disk with my electric drill and in less than an hour had stripped original Honda paint and clearcoat off a Nighthawk tank.  Then fine sanding, cleaning and the tank was shiny aluminum, ready for priming.  What did I miss my not using chemical strippers?
Larry in Boston
[the same guy who uses molasses to clean rust out of gas tanks.]

[Pwfyrcat1]

Aircraft Stripper

[Gordon]

What did I miss my not using chemical strippers?
Larry in Boston
[the same guy who uses molasses to clean rust out of gas tanks.]

Who said you were missing anything?  Different methods, same results. 

[Loas 78 CB750K]

Larry in Boston
[the same guy who uses molasses to clean rust out of gas tanks.]

How does the molasses thing work?

[Zane]

Someone posted this before - I found it interesting.

http://www.chuckhawks.com/harley_prep.htm

[hymodyne]

aircraft stripper, or gasket remover.
I just took most of my frame down to bare metal with one can, removing about four layers of paint. I bought a 750 tank for my cafe project and striped it with aircraft stuff as well,then hit it with a jitterbug and some 100, then 220 grit paper, shot it with three coats of green death.

Hym

[Pwfyrcat1]

hymodyne,

what is 'green death'?

[jabbadeznuts]

Aircraft stripper

Sorry Jabba, but that's not a special kind of stewardess you get in first class.

Only in my dreams do I get an aircraft stripper.

[BobbyR]

Larry in Boston
[the same guy who uses molasses to clean rust out of gas tanks.]

How does the molasses thing work?

Larry, It turns out Molasses binds with rust on a molecular level through chelation. Acids dissolve the rust and of course the metal around it. It is safe and cheap and worth a try.

[Steve F]

I glass bead blasted mine.  20 minutes in the cabinet, and everything, including some bad bondo job was all gone.  The p.o. tried to bondo over the badge mounting bracket and the depression, and the bead blasting was able to remove the bondo from under the bracket.  After a littile dolly work and some thin coats of bondo here and there, it was ready for paint.  Mind you, I'm not the guy doing the body work, I just watched the pro.

[hymodyne]

"green Death" is how I have heard folks in the paint business refer to self etching primer.
I've got bondo and three coats of self etching on the bare tank, followed by two coats of sandable enamel primer.

going to sandblast the chemically stripped frame. By the way, I chose to try zip strip to keep my travel time down for stripping agent yesterday. It worked very well on tough places on the frame that the aircraft stuff had missed. I used a stiff narrow wire brush with stiff bristles to remove everything I didn't scrape off with a putty knife.

hym

[GNXFan]

I use my 5 gallon can of Berryman Chem Dip Professional Parts Cleaner, a.k.a. carb cleaner to not only clean carb parts but to strip paint almost instantly. It just melts any type of paint down to the bare metal. No sanding required. Obviously a tank or frame won't fit into the can but I just pour it into other pans, etc. until  they they can be submerged into the cleaner. This stuff costs about $75 at O'Reilly's Autp Parts Store.
I'll post some example pics later.