Removing Powder Coating Quickly and Cheaply
By Jason Van Wyhe
Powder coating provides a durable finish that stands the test of time. But what happens when you want to remove it? Maybe you bought some parts on E-bay or a swap meet and want to change the colors. Or maybe you want to strip your stock Harley parts to a natural finish, or prep for polishing.
You could sand blast the parts, but many times that is either not feasible or you may not have access to sand blasting equipment. In some cases, the finish can even be too tough for some sand blasting equipment to handle.
The easiest and cheapest way to remove paint and powder coating is with gasket remover. The product we use in our shop is Permatex Gasket Remover® (item #80646). It comes in a 12 ounce aerosol can which is more than enough to do even large projects like engine cases. It is available from most auto parts stores. Other products, such as Zip Strip® paint remover, may also work, but the Permatex product is what we have had the most sucess with.
Simply spray on a liberal coating to the part you are trying to strip, and wait 10-15 minutes. Be sure not to get any on parts that you do not want the paint or powder coating stripped from. Wear eye and skin protection as it can irritate both. Then wipe off the cleaner and powder coating with a disposable rag. You may need to reapply as some areas will be missed the first time.
That's it! Your part should be stripped down to the bare metal. Make sure to wash with wax and grease remover before you try to repaint.
©2005 Chopper Surplus. This Article may not be reproduced without the express written consent of Chopper Surplus. It may not be reposted or redistributed on another web site, or any other form of media, or under a different author's name. Feel free to print copies for your personal use, however.
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