How to remove paint from fibreglass ?.

I am a lazy SOB and am looking for the easiest way to remove paint from fibreglass ? ( and safest, without destroying the fibreglass, not gel coated, my side covers ).

Sandpaper and time. Use a DA or a roloc. Depends on how much is on there.

I used some carb cleaner on the paint and scraped it off with a scraper. If the gel coat has already been sanded it doesn't matter too much, you're going to sand it again anyhow. When you get the paint off, sand down to maybe 220 or so and you should be ready for new paint. Look carefully and use a primer coat and sand again to show up the holes and scratches. Make sure you fill them or the final coat will show all the imperfections.

Dave
69S

Some paint strippers are fiberglass resin compatible. Interlux makes a product called Pintoff. Try the marine stores. Because the original gelcoat had wax in it, you might find the first layer of paint is not well bonded. In which case a razor blade in a holder might work well too. I have heard of whole fiberglass cars being stripped with a razor blade. Can't hurt to try.

Stephen Hill
Victoria

Josh

Find someone with a soda blaster. It will take the paint off but won't hurt the glass fiber, plus easy clean up with water.

Scooter

Hi- I just did my side covers and tank. Best results i had were with wetordry paper- I prefer wet sanding, it seems to remove material better and leaves a smoother finish. Take a bucket of warm water, put a couple tablespoons of dishsoap in it- that keeps the paper from clogging. Use plenty of water and keep at it until it's paint-free and smooth as glass. Then use a CATALYZED primer- any auto paint store can get it for you. A few coats with lots of sanding in between. I took it down to 400 grit before shooting the primer, then wet sanded the primer. When you get ready to shoot the color, I like a basecoat/clearcoat, 'cuz then you can really polish the clearcoat down to a 2500 or 3000 grit, then liquid polish. My side covers came out looking like a wet mirror metallic black finish. But mostly, you've just got to fire up the iPod and wet sand for a few hours. Good luck!

I used the Interlux Interstrip 299E on a purple metalflake rattle-sprayed eBay tank and side covers which had many many coats of paint. Made for fiberglass and available online or marine stores. Expensive. Not as aggressive as a normal paint stripper so it takes a number of coats but it does work and does not affect the fiberglass surface. If you are careful and work fast I think a normal stripper and popsicle stick would work just as well. Just don't let it sit there a long time.