Trailer paint removal

Does anyone have experience of removing flaking paint
from the skin of a metal trailer? About 1/3 of the
paint is coming off...I want to strip all the paint
off and preferably leave the metal skin 'bare'. Is
this just 'buy a big can of paint remover and a large
brush' or is it more complicated? Not really keen
on a streaky finished product.

Any help much appreciated.

Chris

For stripping paint use Nitromors paint stripper - great on timber,
glassfibre and metal.

Use gloves, an apron and eye protection - it stings like hell when you get
it on skin.

Use a plastic stripping knife to avoid damaging the anodised layer of the
aluminium.

Ian


"Chris Davison" wrote in message
...
Does anyone have experience of removing flaking paint
from the skin of a metal trailer? About 1/3 of the
paint is coming off...I want to strip all the paint
off and preferably leave the metal skin 'bare'. Is
this just 'buy a big can of paint remover and a large
brush' or is it more complicated? Not really keen
on a streaky finished product.

Any help much appreciated.

Chris

Earlier, Chris Davison wrote:

I want to strip all the paint off
and preferably leave the metal skin
'bare'.

I would strongly recommend that you paint the trailer white, with
whatever paint you can. A bare metal trailer makes a surprisingly
effective oven, and the elevated interior temperatures can prematurely
age your glider.

Thanks, Bob K.

Chris Davison wrote in message ...
Does anyone have experience of removing flaking paint
from the skin of a metal trailer? About 1/3 of the
paint is coming off...I want to strip all the paint
off and preferably leave the metal skin 'bare'. Is
this just 'buy a big can of paint remover and a large
brush' or is it more complicated? Not really keen
on a streaky finished product.

Any help much appreciated.

Chris

I am guessing the trailer is aluminum. A good paint job is quite a bit of
work but here goes. The paint should be removed to get the best job.
Before paint remover you should remove all plastic parts or cover
them with foil and seal the edges with foil tape. I would also seal with
foil tape any gap or seam (like where a rear door would shut)to keep
paint remover out and away from any gasket or rubber seals. After preping
apply a liberal amount of paint remover to the trailer. A large brush works
well. Don't brush it any more than needed to aply it. Thicker works better.
The paint will either bubble or melt depending on what kind of paint it is.
After the paint is loosened use a hard plastic scraper and squeegee the
material off the trailer. Wash with plenty of water. Retreat any areas
that are not free from paint. Next scrub with a red 3m scuff pad and
lacquer thinner until your arm falls off. Now wash some more with your
other arm. Remove the foil tape and carefully strip the exposed paint
using a small brush and paint remover. Follow up with the scuff pad.
Now that the metal is clean go to your local auto paint store and use
a paint system from the metal out. Dupont, Jet Glow, Alumigrip, It does
not matter just use the whole system. Most have a wash primer/conversion
coating, primer and topcoat. If it sounds like a lot of work it's
because it is. Of course you could just hit it a couple of licks
with 220 sandpaper and roll on some house paint and it will look fine
from thirty or fourty feet. Until next year when it all peals off.
All that said I would first try to remove the paint just by washing
it with thinner and a scuff pad. If that works make a deal will with
a body shop to shoot the paint and you can prep it yourself.

Craig-

Chris Davison wrote:
Does anyone have experience of removing flaking paint
from the skin of a metal trailer? About 1/3 of the
paint is coming off...I want to strip all the paint
off and preferably leave the metal skin 'bare'. Is
this just 'buy a big can of paint remover and a large
brush' or is it more complicated? Not really keen
on a streaky finished product.

Since it's poorly adhered, perhaps renting a good pressure washer would
take off most of it. I haven't tried this on an aluminum trailer. Paint
stripper could be used for the rest of it.


--
Change "netto" to "net" to email me directly

Eric Greenwell
Washington State
USA

"Eric Greenwell" wrote in message
...
Chris Davison wrote:
Does anyone have experience of removing flaking paint
from the skin of a metal trailer? About 1/3 of the
paint is coming off...I want to strip all the paint
off and preferably leave the metal skin 'bare'. Is
this just 'buy a big can of paint remover and a large
brush' or is it more complicated? Not really keen
on a streaky finished product.

Since it's poorly adhered, perhaps renting a good pressure washer would
take off most of it. I haven't tried this on an aluminum trailer. Paint
stripper could be used for the rest of it.

I second this. The local "U-Squirt It" car wash can remove a lot of loose
paint.

Bob and Craig's points about painting it white with a good paint system are
also a very good ideas.

Bill Daniels

Here's a few tips on paint removal...(yes I speak from experience)
First, pressure wash everything. Second Wash by hand the entire trailer with
a solution of Tide and Water in a bucket mixed 1 part Tide, 4 parts Water
Let dry completely.

Purchase any of the commercially available "Methyline-Chloride" Paint
strippers, I prefer the ones that are called "Aircraft Paint Remover"

Use a well ventilated area, as this crap stinks, and also use heavy duty
chemical resistant gloves as it burns the skin...what I do, is to purchase a
roll of painters masking plastic, it's 4 mils thick. I lay that under the
entire trailer or plane in my case....spread out enough so that you can wrap
the entire trailer....I go like crazy on a hot day putting the paint
stripper on and as soon as I have the whole thing covered LIBERALLY...( only
time you'll hear me use the word liberal by the way) Then wrap the plastic
around the trailer and tape it in place for a few hours...sit back with a
beer on your favorite lawn mower....and leave the crud alone till it's
dry....mostly you'll have large flaked areas which can be scraped easily
off....then you pressure wash the more tenacious stuff...and then you go
back and treat the clingy areas again....generally I can do an airplane in
two days with one helper...try to catch all the nasty paint crap in the
ruined plastic wrapper and discard of that once dry in an appropriate
method...

Easy huh...pressure wash, tide wash, stripper on...scrape, pressure
wash...and dispose....then you need to Alodine 1200 the entire
surface...then use a good "metal etching" primer ( I prefer Montana
Products) and re-paint the whole thing and WHITE....is really the only
choice....

Good luck...happy stripping!!

Steve Hill

I sell and have used Staz-Wett paint remover....see
http://www.wingsandwheels.com/Stazwett.htm
works great
tim

"Chris Davison" wrote in message
...
Does anyone have experience of removing flaking paint
from the skin of a metal trailer? About 1/3 of the
paint is coming off...I want to strip all the paint
off and preferably leave the metal skin 'bare'. Is
this just 'buy a big can of paint remover and a large
brush' or is it more complicated? Not really keen
on a streaky finished product.

Any help much appreciated.

Chris

Purhase any of the commercially available "Methyline-Chloride" Paint
strippers, I prefer the ones that are called "Aircraft Paint Remover"

Be extermely cautious when using any stripper or product that contains
any methyline chlorine, it will and can be absorbed through the skin
and cause liver and kidney damage, that's the burning sensation. You
should protect yourself from contact wheneve possible.

Reminder: Take the glider out of the trailer. This may seem obvious - but I
know of a guy who stripped the paint from his old, leaky metal trailer - with
the glider inside. 'Nuff said.

Burt
Marfa, TX