Stripping paint/rust from body
 

What is the current best method for stripping paint and rust from a body, without warping anything, or removing any factory markings that could be useful later?

Going to attempt a complete body off restoration of an early Chevelle that has original, mostly weathered away paint, and several rusty areas that will need at least some patch panels, or more, not exactly sure yet.

Plastic media? Walnut shells? Chemical dipping?

I’ve read several previous posts here, but not sure what is the best for this situation.

Thanks.

Whatever method you use, mask off those markings and you can hand apply whatever method you use on the rest of the car.

They used a plastic media on my Camaro. You could see all the crayon marks on the firewall. I didn't redo them, I documented them with pictures as it was getting painted over again. You may have to sand blast in the areas where it's rusted. Start with the media unless somebody has another way. They have special tape to put over the Fisher body tag. Don't remove it...Joe

It would be nice to know what part of the country you're in to know what to suggest for a local source.
There are places that do total immersion in non-toxic solutions that remove everything but clean steel and that is all you're left with. The one I use is near Milwaukee, WI and he does pieces to whole body and can have the entire body dipped in EDP after too. The EDP his partner uses is better than what is on the NOS parts I've bought. My, lifetime, bodyman/painter that is helping me was so impressed, he is now taking all this restoration parts there too.

Any total dip in solution is, most likely, going to remove any chalk marks and even stripping by hand will need great care to avoid the marks.

I am in north Alabama. I am not sure of the choices that are reasonably close to here, so will have to do some research. I worry about the chemical process dissolving the trim tag or rivets, so not sure on that process.

Maybe plastic media will be the best, and some sand blasting in the rusty areas as Joe says?

Does anyone think there are issues with chemically stripping the hood and top? There are adhesives in these two parts that join the out metal to the inner support structures that are then dissolved by the chemicals. It seems to me there would be challenges to replace the adhesive without distorting the outer metal skin.

Do not leave tags on a car that is being chemically stripped. Even paint stripper can damage aluminum.

Anyone familiar with a dipping process that uses a base solution to clean metal? there is a shop close to me that does this and it leaves only the base metal. The parts I have seen have kind of a whitish look when done, almost like they need to be cleaned. The shop says that the parts do not need additional cleaning, they are ready as is. Not sure what the chemical is but shop told me that it is some sort base solution, not acid?

I have had a shop in Franklin, WI strip many parts to clean, bare metal with a solution similar to evaporust. Completely non-toxic or acidic, but it removes EVERYTHING but metal. No paint, rust or filler left on the parts. He applies a solution of rust stop that will keep the parts from flash rusting a for a few days, but it is not white, it is just clear. He also works with another shop in Eastern MI that dips the parts in a vat for Electro plating...EDP. That process looks just like the original EDP on NOS parts, but is now compatible with modern paints and chemicals where leaving 40-60 yr old EDP on NOS parts is not and modern paint can fail as the old EDP breaks down under it. NOT cheap, but a fantastic base to work from once done this way. Oh, and the vats are huge. They both submerge whole bodies and full frames...
Restoration Specialists.com
Well, seems they let their web page go.
Here is the phone and address
Phone: (414) 529-1515
Address: 6846 S 112th St, Franklin, WI 53132

I have been using them since 1980. The only way to remove rust and paint.