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I want to clean up my struts and rudders--too many layers of old paint----what is the preferred tools and method?

if someone is
blasting in your yard have them hit yours
if not start sanding, or wire wheel

I used a combination of sanding,wire wheel,muriatic acid make sure the wire wheel is stainless so you don’t contaminate the metal. Also wear gloves and a respirator. They come out like brand new.

Try a flap wheel. Heavy sandpaper wheel that goes on a Makita grinder. Don't use it on the shafts but rudders will be fine.

I have used those abrasive black wheels that goes in a drill. You can find them at Lowes and Home depot. Does a decent job. Otherwise if you want to keep the dust down, paint remover. Put plastic on the ground, then put on the stripper. Let it do its thing and take it off. May need to hit it a couple of times.

Then finish with wire wheel, flapper or the abrasive wheel.

I am interested in chemical strippers---anyone have more details?

they make stripper for bottom paint use that

I have yet to use a chemical stripper that took off enough layers of paint in one shot to make it worth the effort.
Cost a pretty penny, gotta paint the stuff on, let it sit, then you get to scrape the goop off...some into a bucket, other onto the tarp the rest usually on my clothes...yeah yeah I know the white suit thing...but I don't and its on the pants, shirt. Wrap up the tarp and good slips out the sides...walk it over to the yard container...or shove in car and drive over...yep goop in car too.

Then you look at what your working on and know it needs to be done again...

I found a good paint scraper takes off multiple layers in one or two passes. It all falls into tarp and your done.

Sanding is way slow even with an aggressive cutting paper.

4" disc grinder with 36 grit...nice and quick...but you'll have a plume of dust and it can be aggressive cutting. Although struts and rudders can take a cut pretty well...boat hull is another story.

Believe it or not Peel Away

https://dumondchemicals.com/home-peel-a ... overs.html

https://dumondchemicals.com/home-peel-away-1.html

Put it on, cover it so it stays wet, follow their directions, and let it sit overnight. It will get you down pretty far, then use an abrasive wheel to clean it up.

Nothing will get it down to bare metal, since metal has crevices in it.

For things like the rudders and possibly the struts, you can put a garbage bag over them and close it up for the night. Shafts a little tougher but you can open the bag and wrap it around the shaft and tie it on.

I have stripped metal, not bottom paint, but metal with multiple coats of paint using Citrus Peel. Had to put it on twice in some areas. Covered the metal in plastic and let it sit overnight. I was amazed at how much paint came off.

A needle scaler works well on them if you access to air.

A really sharp 1/2" wood chisel works better than a scraper, and way faster than chemicals.

https://www.jamestowndistributors.com/u ... o?pid=3495

When I said scraper I meant a HD carbide tipped scraper you use with two hands, draw back while pushing down a bit...an inch wide blade...but when you get it right many multiple coats of paint are off in one shot with little effort. I started with disc grinder...but found the scraper worked better.

Carl's scraper will do the job. A little heat or IR http://www.silentpaintremover.com/spr/index.htm will help the scraper too.
Not a fun job but good to have it done!
Best,
Stephan