How to remove bottom paint?
#1
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How to remove bottom paint?
My neighbor just bought a small boat and wants to remove the bottom paint. The previous owner left it in salt water for a long time and looks like it has about 4 layers of paint on it... some of it is chipping. Anyway, it look really bad and he wants it removed.
What's the best way to remove it? I suggested pressure washing as much as possible off and then trying Zip Strip. I assume you shouldn't sand this crap down because of the toxicity, correct? Any other ideas?
TIA!
What's the best way to remove it? I suggested pressure washing as much as possible off and then trying Zip Strip. I assume you shouldn't sand this crap down because of the toxicity, correct? Any other ideas?
TIA!
#3
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Re: How to remove bottom paint?
Yeah. Soda blast or walnut shell blast.
There are also strippers made for bottom paint, but it matters what kind of paint (ablative or hard).
Typical paint strippers will melt the gelcoat since it is essentially a vinyl based plastic.
Sanding is effective, but will leave the underlying gelcoat heavily scuffed. However, chances are that the gelcoat was scuffed initially to prep it for the paint so you won't be adding that much to it. But you need to be sure you don't scuff THRU the gelcoat. It's all give and take.
As far as environmental stuff, he should sand over a tarp so when finished he can bundle it, bag it, and trash it properly instead of hosing it into the yard. Good breathing filtration is also essential.
Best of luck.
There are also strippers made for bottom paint, but it matters what kind of paint (ablative or hard).
Typical paint strippers will melt the gelcoat since it is essentially a vinyl based plastic.
Sanding is effective, but will leave the underlying gelcoat heavily scuffed. However, chances are that the gelcoat was scuffed initially to prep it for the paint so you won't be adding that much to it. But you need to be sure you don't scuff THRU the gelcoat. It's all give and take.
As far as environmental stuff, he should sand over a tarp so when finished he can bundle it, bag it, and trash it properly instead of hosing it into the yard. Good breathing filtration is also essential.
Best of luck.
#4
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Re: How to remove bottom paint?
Soda blasting doesn't sound like a DIY at home project, so I don't think that's an option.
Using an orbital sander would probably work well, but health safety is a big concern (as I would be helping). What is needed for filtration? I assume a 3M dust mask wouldn't cut it.
Chemical stripping sound like the best choice. I don't know jack about bottom paints, how can I tell if it's ablative or hard? How well do these work?
BTW, we are not worried about scuffing the gel coat, it will be repainted with some type of two part epoxy to make it look nice.
Using an orbital sander would probably work well, but health safety is a big concern (as I would be helping). What is needed for filtration? I assume a 3M dust mask wouldn't cut it.
Chemical stripping sound like the best choice. I don't know jack about bottom paints, how can I tell if it's ablative or hard? How well do these work?
BTW, we are not worried about scuffing the gel coat, it will be repainted with some type of two part epoxy to make it look nice.
Last edited by SS930; 10-16-2006 at 08:00 AM.
#6
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Re: How to remove bottom paint?
Originally Posted by muffman
Kleen Strip makes a fiberglass paint stripper that works great but it won't remove epoxy primer. Had to sand that off.
#7
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Re: How to remove bottom paint?
Originally Posted by Martin Bowker
You might be able to scrape the thick stuff off with a good metal scraper. Then just sand what is left or use a stripper. You need to wear a sealed mask when you sand anti-foulants. The kind with the rubber nose piece. 3M makes one that you can pop the charcoal cartridges off and then just use the circle disks that spin on and are for dust only. Also you might just want to use wetsand which doesn't make any dust.
#9
Re: How to remove bottom paint?
Originally Posted by SS930
Does that work on bottom paint???
#10
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Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Millsboro, DE
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Re: How to remove bottom paint?
Originally Posted by SS930
Does that work on bottom paint???
Ended up with very clean old bottom paint still on the boat.