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Post by vikx on May 24, 2021 18:19:57 GMT -8
Hey everyone, I was checking out parts at Vintage Trailer Supply and discovered an easy way to remove the white paint from new metal. They use a torch and burn it off! It's very quick and easy to do. Here is a link to the video: vintagetrailersupply.com/vintage-style-drip-cap-vts-515/Good news for all of us who have tried to remove factory baked on paint. Of course, do it outside on cement or rocks and do not overheat the metal. |
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nccamper
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Posts: 7,744 
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1962 Forester- 1956 Shasta
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Post by nccamper on May 25, 2021 5:12:24 GMT -8
I've done this with VTS water diverters. It worked great.
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Post by wisconsinjoe on Aug 28, 2021 6:27:28 GMT -8
I tried the torch but it didn't work so well. I guess I was afraid of melting the aluminum. I had tried earlier to heat bend a section of awning rail and the thing actually melted and broke off. So I'm a little gun shy with a torch. But I did torch the eyebrows, and then used stripper. That worked okay because some hard scrubbing with steel wool cleans up fine.
I have also been trying to remove paint from two aluminum refrigerator vents, which is NOT going well. Stripper seems to do almost nothing to the paint. What gives? I'm spending hours grinding off the paint with a drill held rotary mesh pad. And still I can't get some small areas in the curves and cracks.
I'm starting to accept the "It'll look good at 25 feet" rule.
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Post by vikx on Aug 28, 2021 11:06:16 GMT -8
Refrigerator vents are normally painted to match the color of the trailer body. If your metal is mill, Rustoleum hammered silver works well for vents and other attachments.
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Post by wisconsinjoe on Aug 28, 2021 17:24:50 GMT -8
Yes, I know about the hammered silver paint, and had used it before. But I thought I might as well try to strip off the white paint to mill finish aluminum. Got one grill done "good enough," but the second one almost is worse. Hate to give up now and use paint, after all that hard work.
What is it with this commercial paint, and why won't it strip off?
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Post by danrhodes on Aug 28, 2021 17:43:53 GMT -8
An old painter once told me that no primer is better than old factory paint. I scuffed mine, primed the bare metal and my cheap tractor paint has held on well.
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Post by vikx on Aug 28, 2021 18:46:50 GMT -8
The factory paint is BAKED on and tougher than nails... sorta like powder coating?
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