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CNKS
10-03-2003 19:03:16
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Re: Stripping methods in reply to Dave S, 10-03-2003 09:45:36
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I don't own a sandblaster, except for a spot blaster for small parts. Gene's suggestions below are good, I have no disareement. First get the tractor clean with oven cleaner and a pressure washer. Unlike others, however, I have had little success using oven cleaner to remove paint, I use it mainly for cleaning. I have stripped with wire brushes on a drill and used an angle grinder. The other way is to use chemical stripper, I use the stuff Walmart sells. I brush it on a small area, let it sit for a few minutes, and remove with a wire brush on my drill. It comes off fairly easily (what a mess, paint and stripper everywhere including me). I have not had to scrape as Gene suggests, however. Gene is correct when he says you have to remove all the stripper. By this time my tractor is in a non-running, non-moving condition. I do not have a hot water pressure washer, so the stripper is removed with repeated washings, a combination of liquid (water based)parts cleaner, soap and water, etc, and then cleaned repeately with wax and grease remover, to hopefully remove any traces of whatever other products I have used, including the paint stripper. This last step is important to assure paint adhesion, and no interference with contaminants. I then coat the cast with a rust converter/preventative to remove any rust I may have missed and also remove flash rust that occurs when you use water. One thing that I have not seen mentioned on this board or anywhere else for that matter, is that cast is VERY dirty. If you use wire brushes as I do the old paint, rust, and other crud gets ground into the pores in the cast. This is where a high pressure, hot water, pressure washer would be handy. It takes me several hours of repeated washing with a hose, and whatever cleaner I am using to get it all off (I never am sure). I dry with white rags, I like the last one to come back clean, it takes a LONG time before that happens. I have my cast wheels sandblasted, they are still dirty, but are much easier to clean. Of course the engine and chassis have more of the 50 years of oil and grime than the wheels do. Easier to sandblast if you have access to one, if and only if you can keep the sand out of places you don't want it to be. I am NOT saying that my method is best, it is just one way to do it.
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