Best way to strip paint from aluminum cabinet

[bakerb95619]

I recently bought a Penny Smoke that has a terrible black paint job. I assume the best way to remove the paint would be bead or walnut blasting, but I've heard of "airplane paint stripper" that is supposed to work well on aluminum and am wondering if anyone has used the paint stripper (or other methods)? Also is there some special type of paint that is best for machines? Thanks, Bill

[watlingboy]

"Aircraft Paint Stripper" is the best I've used and I think I have tried most. Unless the paint is fresh and even then I always use stripper first. It removes most if not all of the paint and then the part can be cleaned up easily in my blasting cabinet. Back doors with wrinkle paint will take forever to bead blast in your cabinet but if you strip most of the paint off first with Aircraft stripper, the bead blasting goes quickly. Test any painted parts and some may bead blast easily but if they don't, strip them first.


Watlingboy

[bakerb95619]

Thanks Watlingboy, will you be at the next VCA auction in October?
I've read that supposedly aircraft stripper is available at Kragen and Pep Boys, but I've also read from others that it can be harder to find. Is there a chain location or somewhere you would know of in Northern California (or online) to obtain aircraft stripper for a reasonable cost?

[drwstr123]

It's on eBay....
http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trksid ... Categories

[watlingboy]

Unfortunately I won't be at the VCA auction, I have a wedding to attend. I buy the Aircraft stripper at Autozone Auto Parts and it can also be purchased at almost any good automotive paint supply store. Check the Yellow pages and it should be very easy to find.

Good luck,

Watlingboy

P.S.

Wear gloves and don't let it get on your skin.

[cpdretired]

Bead blasting works great if your going to paint the surface. It would leave the Penny Smoke with a frosty appearance. I didn't know about the aircraft stripper. I may give it a try next time I need to strip a aluminum machine.