Topic: black stuff while stripping paint.

[Drew]

I am stripping my tank with airplane stripper and I have found that there is a thick layer of black stuff underneath.  It turns super gooey and sticky from the stripper and makes a huge mess.  It actually doesn't really come off.  Anyone know what it is and how to deal with it?

[nancy]

Drew,
I dunno what is is,..but I would use the paint stripper but rub it with a kitchen pot scourer - you know that bunch of brass/gold coloured metal flakes in a ball? Make sure u have gloves on and use hot soapy water to supplement rubbing on and cleaning it down. ALso bundle of steel wool would be good but that gums up really fast. Keep dipping it in and out of the hot water.
Mark

[Drew]

Thanks Mark I'll give it a shot.  Man this stuff is messing.

[Greggo]

I found the same stuff underneath a layer of paint on my 500/4 tank.  Not sure what it is, but there should be clean metal just underneath that layer.