Paint Removal

[CC Rider]

Now that it is blazing hot here, it's time to begin summer projects on our cars. The previous owner of my '66 painted all of the metal interior trim around the Windows and windshield. I doubt they were black from Chevrolet in 1966.

My plan is to remove each assembly, remove the paint, and polish the surface. If he used the same paint that I removed from the bottom of the rocker moldings, paint removal will be a challenge. I used leftover stripper from Home Depot, and that stuff struggled. Maybe it sat on the shelf too long. Lacquer thinner was ineffective.

What would be the best stuff to use for paint removal from the interior trim?

Thanks

[Xplantdad]

Rick, give Shaun a call!

[mssl72]

Yeah, Rick, all that interior trim should be shiny anodized aluminum. I don't know what would strip the paint and not hurt the anodizing. Let us know what you end up doing.

[Lee Stewart]

You will be very limited in your choices for chemical stripping. Most will damage the aluminum once they come in contact with it.

Have you tried Lacquer Thinner or Acetone (nail polish remover)? It will be slow going but neither should disturb the anodizing which BTW is only a few microns thick.

Stay away from anything with Lye (Sodium Hydroxide) in it: Oven Cleaner,Fantastic, Formula 409, Castrol Super Clean, Simple Green etc. Great for removing paint, hard on Aluminum. I also believe brake fluid is in this category.

[CC Rider]

Thanks everyone.

I'll remove a piece and see what happens using lacquer thinner or acetone.

[CC Rider]

All of the paint has been removed!





Ended up using about 1 gallon of lacquer thinner, a pile of old rags, and some 0000 steel wool.

The A pillar moldings were the easiest to remove the black paint. Placing rags soaked in lacquer thinner worked very quickly and completely. I don't think they are stainless steel.

All other stainless pieces were a different story. They had two coats of paint that would not let go without more aggressive methods. The soaked rags loosened the paint a little, but not much. But soaking 0000 steel wool in lacquer thinner made the process more effective. On some pieces, it cut right through the black paint.

The only piece that was marred was the upper trim on the back window. I suspect it was sanded before it was painted, because steel wool would not have done that damage.

After removing the paint, I used an Adam's 2 step polishing treatment and waxed each piece. The anodizing appears to still be on each piece. I also polished the rear view mirror and bracket, coat hangers, and ash trays.

Unfortunately, the corner pieces of the rear window are plastic, so for the short term, I sprayed them with "chrome" paint.

[mssl72]

Looks great Rick! Nice job! I forgot those corner pieces on the back window are plastic. I've yet to take mine out.

[CC Rider]

Thanks Mark. Now it looks "right" to me.

[Bill Pritchard]

Lookin' good, Rick!

[enio45]

good job rick!!