I miss when rust removers and paint strippers worked.

[RED-Z06 2,455]

Was going to freshen up a few wheels, no heavy rust, just surface rust and old paint.  I didn't feel like spending an hour manually stripping so i grabbed some rustoleum rust dissolver, and 2 minute paint stripper.

 

The rust dissolver says 30 minutes, left it on an hour. Did nothing, the stripper said 2 to 10 minutes, left on 20...a few spots it pulled some paint accompanied by 5000psi of water...but didnt lift any paint.

 

I even hedged my bets on the smaller wheels, 2 hours in the hot tank then a degreaser, manual scrub, and power wash...before applying any chemicals 

Edited March 14 by RED-Z06

[Blasterdad 2,999]

10 minutes ago, RED-Z06 said:

but didnt lift any paint.

I use good 'ol DOT 3 brake fluid. Destroys paint. 

[RED-Z06 2,455]

16 minutes ago, Blasterdad said:

I use good 'ol DOT 3 brake fluid. Destroys paint. 

Remember when Easy Off Oven cleaner was the go-to?  You get that crap near paint it would lift it.  Now it doesn't even make it hazy🤣.  

[Chaz54 69]

I’m using Evapo-Rust from Harbor Freight and it’s working for me. Granted it’s taking a little longer than they state, but it is working. 

[RED-Z06 2,455]

1 hour ago, Chaz54 said:

I’m using Evapo-Rust from Harbor Freight and it’s working for me. Granted it’s taking a little longer than they state, but it is working. 

Its good stuff, takes a couple days but it works, my problem is you need alot for big parts.

[squonk 42,335]

E-tank or vinegar bath. Even some Dawn degreaser (smells like **** n Span) in the ultrasonic lifts some paint. I got some engine tins in there now and some of the paint is wrinkly

 

[Pullstart 64,384]

E tank

[ri702bill 8,914]

21 minutes ago, Pullstart said:

E tank

 

Second choice - needle scaler. Third - bead blast.

[RED-Z06 2,455]

1 hour ago, squonk said:

E-tank or vinegar bath. Even some Dawn degreaser (smells like **** n Span) in the ultrasonic lifts some paint. I got some engine tins in there now and some of the paint is wrinkly

 

I have a 7gallon Ultrasonic, i put in 1 gallon superclean, 1 gallon simple green; 1 cup dawn, and the rest water.  Its cleans amazing, if i crank it up to 90 minutes and 160⁰F it will definitely show you if your paint is substandard.  

 

I put some more rust dissolver on the wheels then went inside to watch a basketball game (Big10 Tournament, Go Spartans), and then power washed it again, ill say it did much better that time around..it got about 60% of the rust, good enough to finish up by hand.  Paint stripper is useless though...

[RED-Z06 2,455]

Just now, ri702bill said:

 

Second choice - needle scaler. Third - bead blast.

Back when i had my 80g/7hp compressor i had a sandblaster, that was really handy but slow, problem became finding good sand locally that wasn't full of trash, or too fine to cut.

[squonk 42,335]

Buy abrasive from sandblaster supply like Eastwood or TP Tools. Even Harbor Freight has decent glass bead

[Wayne0 852]

Best paint stripper I ever used was "BIX". The paint would literally melt off. Can't get it any more as it's too hazardous.

I still have a 1/2 gallon or so. SHHHH.

[Pullstart 64,384]

Another choice is this stuff.  It’ll remove an entire plane!

 

 

[RED-Z06 2,455]

1 hour ago, squonk said:

Buy abrasive from sandblaster supply like Eastwood or TP Tools. Even Harbor Freight has decent glass bead

I was getting 1000lbs at a time locally, 500 fine, 500 coarse, screened, stored dry...it was great, $5 a bag.  That company got shut down by the epa and i tried a few other options...ended up destroying my blaster tank.

[RED-Z06 2,455]

7 minutes ago, Pullstart said:

Another choice is this stuff.  It’ll remove an entire plane!

 

 

Yeah thats the new formula, the Methylene Chloride was the primary ingredient that soaked into and lifted paint, when DMC was banned globally it neutered the stripper market.  Granted the stuff was awful healthwise, but it worked...and fast.

[WHX?? 50,520]

1 hour ago, Wayne0 said:

Best paint stripper I ever used was "BIX". 

Using this on a lp tank. Works ... kinda. Lots of scrubbing & wire brushing.

Ways to go yet.

[Wayne0 852]

2 hours ago, WHX?? said:

Using this on a lp tank. Works ... kinda. Lots of scrubbing & wire brushing.

Ways to go yet.

Probably a newer formula, not as nasty. Mine's about 20 years old!

[adsm08 2,559]

6 hours ago, Pullstart said:

E tank

 

Can't beat an e-tank.

 

They are getting harder to build though, since batter chargers have to see a feedback voltage now or they don't charge.

[WHX?? 50,520]

11 hours ago, Blasterdad said:

I use good 'ol DOT 3 brake fluid. Destroys paint. 

Is that right blaster? Come to think of it some leaked out of a Harley master cylinder and it took off  pain. Or was it dot 5 ? CRS but prolly got some of both in a open container that can't be used in brakes. Will have to try it. 

 

Not completely but reminds me of the old carb cleaner that they outlawed. 

[RED-Z06 2,455]

56 minutes ago, WHX?? said:

Is that right blaster? Come to think of it some leaked out of a Harley master cylinder and it took off  pain. Or was it dot 5 ? CRS but prolly got some of both in a open container that can't be used in brakes. Will have to try it. 

 

Not completely but reminds me of the old carb cleaner that they outlawed. 

You mean the stuff that cut varnish?  

 

Also removed the heart and soul from brake cleaner 

.

[Racinbob 11,667]

15 hours ago, Pullstart said:

Another choice is this stuff.  It’ll remove an entire plane!

 

 

 

I've still got some of the old stuff with methylene chloride in it. I think just by grabbing the can on the shelf scares the paint off. Have you tried the 'safe' version Kevin?

My can won't last forever and is no longer available. 

[squonk 42,335]

Flea Markets, Marketplace ect. Good place to find and old school battery charger for an E tank

[adsm08 2,559]

8 hours ago, WHX?? said:

Is that right blaster? Come to think of it some leaked out of a Harley master cylinder and it took off  pain. Or was it dot 5 ? CRS but prolly got some of both in a open container that can't be used in brakes. Will have to try it. 

 

Not completely but reminds me of the old carb cleaner that they outlawed. 

 

Dot 3, 4 or 5 doesn't matter. The primary fluid component of all brake fluids is acetone, which will eat paint. The biggest differences are boiling point and water absorption, and DOT 5 has a lot of silicone.

[Blasterdad 2,999]

9 hours ago, WHX?? said:

CRS but prolly got some of both in a open container that can't be used in brakes.

 

Thats what I do, use up opened ones from past brake jobs. 

[pfrederi 18,285]

12 hours ago, adsm08 said:

 

Can't beat an e-tank.

 

They are getting harder to build though, since batter chargers have to see a feedback voltage now or they don't charge.

 grab a battery out of one of your WHs.  Hook it up to the E-Tank then put the charger on the battery