C-3 stripping paint and to gelcoat or not gelcoat

[Mark A.]

What is the best way to strip all paint from a corvette body? Has anyone used the plastic or soda blasting methods? I have heard pro's and con's to both. Also is gel-coat mandatory? I will be replacing a quarter and lock pillar on my 69. I don't believe it was applied at the factory? Thanks for the help. Mark

[Chuck S.]

Re: C-3 stripping paint and to gelcoat or not gelc

Gelcoat wasn't applied at the factory, but they also didn't have to deal with repro panels and fresh resin repairs on panels that may or may not be properly catalyzed.

I won't offer an opinion of the use of gelcoat because I have no experience using it or not using it. I recommend a search of the archives...literally VOLUMES of discussion have already been posted on this subject. There is a very good chance that after you have read it ALL, you still will not have an definite answer.

[Warren F.]

Re: C-3 stripping paint and to gelcoat or not gelc

Mark,

I can tell you from personal experience, that soda blasting was a mistake for my car. I had a 1970 LS5 coupe that originally was Corvette Bronze, when I bought it, it had been repainted a goldish brown color. I wanted to repaint it again..to black. I was at a large swap meet in Northern California, where a vendor was displaying metal panels, fiberglass panels, aluminum cans, etc that were soda blasted. He espoused on what a marvelous method it was and so on. I bit, and decided to try it. I stripped the Corvette down and hauled it to their shop. When I received the car back, the entire surface was cratered like the moon! They had ruined the entire fiberglass surface texture. They had created an incredible amount of work for myself and the painter. Apparently the paint that they were trying to remove was very hard and difficult, so they needed to increase the pressure used to blast it away by a lot! This apparently was their reason for the cratered appearance of my fiberglass body, they had to increase the amount of pressure to blast off the stubborn paint. I certainly would not recomend this process to use.

[Denny J.]

Re: C-3 stripping paint and to gelcoat or not gelc

Mark/20817/Warren
I have been working 38 years in fiberglass on the industrial side.Tanks/Scrubbers,and my share of boats.I think sanding with a DA slowly, Do not get it hot sanding.Is the way to go. Liquids strippers will soak into the glass.The bad thing about soda BLASTING is the blasting. The fiberglass is not the same thickness in all spots and that is were you get the waves.But with 1 click of the mouse {Archives}Denny72 one quick note if you can don't take it down to bare glass you will have more pin holes than you can count.Leave the primer on the car.Go slow!
BTW my supplier show me some new stuff for you garage fiberglassers.I'll get some phots up to night

[Donald T.]

Re: C-3 stripping paint and to gelcoat or not gelc

I'm sure everyone will have a differing opinion. Mine is to chemically strip with a stripper safe to use on fiberglass like Captain Lee's Spra'-Strip. It's a nasty messy job, but it will take it down to bare fiberglass without damage if used properly. It's important to get down to bare fiberglass so you can find and repair any stress cracks and/or previous body work. I have tried gelcoat and will never use it again. It is very difficult to work with and not necessary. Just make sure the body is thoroughly clean and dry, and apply a good sealer like DPLF. Just my opinion.




Captain Lee's

[Steve L.]

Re: C-3 stripping paint and to gelcoat or not gelc

Any idea of how much stripper you need to do the whole car?

Steve L
73 coupe since new

[Donald T.]

Re: C-3 stripping paint and to gelcoat or not gelc

Steve,

The amount of stripper required will depend on the type and how much paint is on the car. If I recall, I used 2-3 gallons the last time I stripped a car.

Good luck!