undercoating removal followup - NCRS Discussion Boards

undercoating removal followup

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  • Benjamin C.
    Very Frequent User
    • July 31, 1994
    • 134

    undercoating removal followup

    A few weeks ago I posted a question about undercoating removal. I tried every different suggestion. It turned into a giant mess with slow progress. Today I tried an electric heat gun. Hands down the fastest,cleanest and easiest way to remove the undercoating. For anyone who has not done this, it is probably the worst part of the restoration. If you are buying a Corvette to restore, check for undercoating. It will make the restoration much more diffucult.
  • Rick S.
    Expired
    • December 31, 2002
    • 1203

    #2
    Re: undercoating removal followup

    Been there, done that!!!!!!!!!!

    Comment

    • Michael H.
      Expired
      • January 28, 2008
      • 7477

      #3
      Re: undercoating removal followup

      Originally posted by Benjamin Cantele (24868)
      A few weeks ago I posted a question about undercoating removal. I tried every different suggestion. It turned into a giant mess with slow progress. Today I tried an electric heat gun. Hands down the fastest,cleanest and easiest way to remove the undercoating. For anyone who has not done this, it is probably the worst part of the restoration. If you are buying a Corvette to restore, check for undercoating. It will make the restoration much more diffucult.
      Someone once told me that Easy Off oven cleaner worked very well. Spray it on and after 20 minutes, the undercoat came off easily, supposedly. I've never tried it though so I don't know how well it works.

      The heat gun method sounds good too though.

      Comment

      • Eric E.
        Very Frequent User
        • October 31, 1998
        • 254

        #4
        Re: undercoating removal followup

        Will be there - soon doing that! What did you use to clean up the surface after taking off the base undercoat?

        Comment

        • Benjamin C.
          Very Frequent User
          • July 31, 1994
          • 134

          #5
          Re: undercoating removal followup

          I tried the easyoff oven cleaner. It did nothing. I have not done the final cleaning yet, but mineral spirits and will probably do it.

          Comment

          • Eric E.
            Very Frequent User
            • October 31, 1998
            • 254

            #6
            Re: undercoating removal followup

            Sounds like the way to go. Did you use an industrial heat gun or something more like a hair dryer?

            Comment

            • Benjamin C.
              Very Frequent User
              • July 31, 1994
              • 134

              #7
              Re: undercoating removal followup

              Eric, Lowes sells a Wagner paint removal gun. $24. Hair dryer is not hot enough.

              Comment

              • Eric E.
                Very Frequent User
                • October 31, 1998
                • 254

                #8
                Re: undercoating removal followup

                Thanks Benjamin, I have been putting off cleaning the oil, undercoating, grease and anything else stuck to the underside of the body while I work on the chassis. This has given me some momentum to get going on it!

                Comment

                • Bert L.
                  Very Frequent User
                  • April 30, 1977
                  • 424

                  #9
                  Re: undercoating removal followup

                  I can vehemently vouch for the umpteen number of extra hours of misery and frustration that are associated with the removal and cleanup of bitumen-based undercoating. The imbecile that performed the dastardly deed on my car in its infancy even applied this dreck to the underhood. I have often fantasized of tarring and feathering the misguided creature!

                  Comment

                  • Rick S.
                    Expired
                    • December 31, 2002
                    • 1203

                    #10
                    Re: undercoating removal followup

                    A few years back I cleaned off the undercoating on the underside of my car. Tried many things but as Bert has stated the heat gun worked the best to remove the majority of the undercoating. I then used a rattle can of paint remover from Home Depot that had a orange base and came out in a foam, making adhesion easier on a horizontal position. After 3 months of working on this project after work and on weekends, I finished up with a pair of sore shoulders. It seemed like 3 months before I could lift my arms above my shoulders w/o pain. I don't wish this project on anyone.

                    Comment

                    • Mike G.
                      Expired
                      • December 31, 1990
                      • 418

                      #11
                      Kerosene

                      After heat scraping, using a non-metal implement, spray on some kerosene and wipe with a scouring pad --the copper kind that is used for scrubbing expensive pots/pans. The surface will look like new. And kerosene is safer than mineral spirits. Cheaper too these days.

                      Comment

                      • Las K.
                        Expired
                        • July 31, 2006
                        • 96

                        #12
                        Acetone and a scotchbrite

                        Wear some rubber gloves because it gets a little messy but worked out great on my '61. Used it for fiberglass and metal parts but be careful on plastics.

                        Comment

                        • Stan B.
                          Expired
                          • March 11, 2008
                          • 13

                          #13
                          Re: undercoating removal followup

                          I am currently doing mine with a heat gun and mineral spirits. I was very impressed with how fast the heat gun gets the job done; however, because of all the various tight spots, I am sometimes forced to soaking the spots with mineral spirits and scrubbing them with a soft-bristle tooth brush.

                          Caution: heat guns get very hot and will melt the rubber floor plugs - don't ask me how I know this. If you are lucky like me, the undercoating will preserve some neat stuff - in my case I was lucky enough to find most of my frame stenciling intact.

                          Good Luck!

                          Comment

                          • Bruce B.
                            Extremely Frequent Poster
                            • May 31, 1996
                            • 2930

                            #14
                            Re: undercoating removal followup

                            Harbor Freight has a heat gun with a high and low setting for less then $10.00, usually on sale. It works great.
                            I have also used Scotchbrite with mineral spirits, kerosene or lacquer thinner as a final cleenup and they all work great. Just be aware of the potential fire hazzard.

                            Comment

                            • Eric E.
                              Very Frequent User
                              • October 31, 1998
                              • 254

                              #15
                              Re: undercoating removal followup

                              It does seem a bit silly to spend all the time doing this in the wheel wells and then needing to re-apply undercoating to protect the fiberglass. I believe there was an initial factory application of an undercoat type product, and in the case of the front fenders, to protect in case a stray rock can pop or star the paint if it strikes the bare fiberglass.

                              Comment

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