Getting Rid of Undercoat

[73novaguy]

What is the best way to scrape all of the undercoat out of my trunk area! I want to POR15 the floors!

[DeepBlue68]

I've been getting it off of my wheelwells recently. The best way I've found so far is to use a heat gun and a scraper to get the majority of it off, and then come back through with a wire wheel to blow off all of the little specks that are left. If there's some kind of chemical that can be used to dissolve it without eating the panels, I'd like to know about it, because getting that stuff off is a major PITA.

[Sparky67]

This method was posted on this site awhile back. It seems like the easiest way to remove undercoating. I never tried it, because I had my 67 RS Camaro dipped and e-coated. Anyway, here is the link http://www.svend.net/mustang/ww73/ww73.html

You can buy Peel Away 7 online, but I believe either Lowes or Home Depot sells it too. It looks the easiest and most envionmentally safe way to remove undercoated besides the torch and the scraper method.

Jeff

[73novaguy]

Cool,
Thanks guys! I will check out Home Depot for it and maybe even try a little over cleaner as was previously mentioined in a article.

[BonzoHansen]

EZ Off Heavy Duty (yellow cans) will peel paint like a champ. I just used it on my inner fenderwells, core support & engine block. But It really isn't touching the undercoat on the wheel wells.

I've never seen that stuff at HD or Lowes. I'll look again.

Edit: I Googled (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=PEEL+AWAY+7&btnG=Google+Search) it
http://www.paintremoval.com/Qstore/c000003.htm
http://www.popularmechanics.com/home_improvement/home_improvement/1276266.html
According to PM:
Peel Away 7 is sold at Sherwin Williams paint stores and direct from the manufacturer. Contact Dumond Chemicals Inc., 1501 Broadway, New York, NY 10036; 800-245-1191, or visit the company's Web site at www.peelaway.com

[zero g]

A torch works pretty good to. There is no easy way. Aircraft stripper wil work to but that stuff is NASTY.

[BonzoHansen]

A minor update. I can find Peel Away 1 at Ace Hardware and Sherwin Williams near my house, but not #7. So I bit the bullet and ordered some online from the link above.

Peel Away 7 Starter Package (1 qt.)
1 Qt. Peel Away 7 / 33 Square feet of Peel Away Paper $27.95

I tried it on one of my inner fenders. The undercoating appears to have won this round, although it may have softened. When I peeled the paper back, all I had in my hand was paper. I will try again, it may have been too hot (dried out?), and the inner fender is not as smooth as you might think so maybe I didn’t do the paper right, but initial results are not promising.

I will try again.

[Sparky67]

A minor update. I can find Peel Away 1 at Ace Hardware and Sherwin Williams near my house, but not #7. So I bit the bullet and ordered some online from the link above.

Peel Away 7 Starter Package (1 qt.)
1 Qt. Peel Away 7 / 33 Square feet of Peel Away Paper $27.95

I tried it on one of my inner fenders. The undercoating appears to have won this round, although it may have softened. When I peeled the paper back, all I had in my hand was paper. I will try again, it may have been too hot (dried out?), and the inner fender is not as smooth as you might think so maybe I didn’t do the paper right, but initial results are not promising.

I will try again.

According to the link that I posted. It says to let it soak for 24 hours. I never used the stuff, but I would soak it on with a brush. Then apply the wax paper. Let it soak for 24 hours, and then try it again.

Jeff

Oh, a torch works good too, but it has fumes. I wouldn't have the fuel tank or fuel lines in the car. If I was doing the torch method.

[DRJDVM's '69]

I used the stuff on my Barracuda just in the last 3-4 weeks. It definitely helped soften the stuff but it was still a battle to scrape it off. In some area it came off real smooth and others I had to apply it 2-3 times to get down to metal. I glopped it on pretty thick and let it "cook" for over 24 hours too. Basiclly it helped but it didnt come off like mayonaise like the other guy got in that link. I think it also has to do with the thickness of the undercoating. Mine was really thick.

It doesnt come off with the paper, you still have to scrape it. The paper just keeps it from dryig out while it "cooks"

So my technique ended up as a combination of things... Peel Away, wire wheel, Mr. Muscle Oven Cleaner and just hard work. It took along time and made a huge mess. I had 4 plastic grocery bags full of the stuff when I was done

As far as oven cleaner... the general consensus seems to be Mr Muscle which you can order online from Ace harware, Amazon etc etc ( I couldnt find it in stores in CA). Alot of the ove cleaners on the market need heat to work, so make sure you get one that doesnt or it wont really help much.

So my overall opinion of the Peel Away 7.... fair... it helped but is far from the ultimate tool for removing undercoating (at least in my experience). I'd say it was worth it and is probably less $$ than the oven cleaner I would have gone through

[BonzoHansen]

According to the link that I posted. It says to let it soak for 24 hours. I never used the stuff, but I would soak it on with a brush. Then apply the wax paper. Let it soak for 24 hours, and then try it again.
Oh, I let it soak, all right. Like 2 days, because I was busy. That is why I think maybe it dried out. We had a heat wave here last week, garage was probably 100* those two days (<--another reason why it soaked so long :)).

[todd8541]

I used a hot water pressure washer took it right off. swept if up in a dust pan and dump it in the can. It comes right off. just get a rain suit like i did and have at it. no fumes, no mess (well water).


todd

[69slotcar]

I used RemovALL 510. Apply it and wait, overnight.
Real Easy and gets everything. Also, it works on paint really well.
Non-toxic and safe. Pricey though.

[BonzoHansen]

I used RemovALL 510. Apply it and wait, overnight.
Real Easy and gets everything. Also, it works on paint really well.
Non-toxic and safe. Pricey though.
It looks like a gallon is ~$66. Is that enough? I figure I'd waste at least half that on wire wheels and such anyway.

[69slotcar]

I basically did (2) cars with (2) 5 gallon containers of RemovALL.
It's a little cheaper purchasing 5 gallons.
...but, that is (2) cars "complete" - inside and out.
If you are in a hurry, this is not the way to do your car.
I wasn't in a "rush", so this method worked for me.
Plus, using Aircraft Remover is really bad ! Your really have to
be careful using the "stuff" !! I'm sure others will agree.
RemovALL is really mild...but works really great !!

[BonzoHansen]

Those floors came out clean. Wow. 5 gallons per car just for the underside or the whole car? I just need to do the underside.

[Beegs]

I basically did (2) cars with (2) 5 gallon containers of RemovALL.
It's a little cheaper purchasing 5 gallons.
...but, that is (2) cars "complete" - inside and out.
If you are in a hurry, this is not the way to do your car.
I wasn't in a "rush", so this method worked for me.
Plus, using Aircraft Remover is really bad ! Your really have to
be careful using the "stuff" !! I'm sure others will agree.
RemovALL is really mild...but works really great !!

Did you make the rotisserie you are using? Any better pics of it? Sure would make this type of job easier!

[69slotcar]

Those floors came out clean. Wow. 5 gallons per car just for the underside or the whole car? I just need to do the underside

It took about 5 gallons per car. All I did was "brush" on (since it's pretty thick/gooey) the Removall and let it sit overnight. The next morning, with some steel wool and a lot of paper towels (along with plastic grocery bags), off came the undercoat. Real messy, but real easy. ...and safe too ! The odor is non-toxic but I used a mask anyways, since I was doing both cars inside my garage. I would also suggest using gloves because of the "mess" !



Did you make the rotisserie you are using? Any better pics of it? Sure would make this type of job easier!

Yes, I did make both (in fact 3 complete sets). I designed and built them for my own particular application (low ceiling clearance / first gen Camaro). They took quite a while to build but they were well worth the effort. If you are interested in additional info...you can contact me at: [email protected]

[69slotcar]

...along with the Chassis Fixture !

[Beegs]

...along with the Chassis Fixture !

Very nice!! I will be emailing you in the near future. I am working on my shop right now, hopefully will get the floor poured this week. Thanks for the pic! Bryan

[69slotcar]

Bryan,
thanks...
I'm sure we'd all like to see pics of your shop too !!

Dave

[lantzn]

One thing I found to work EXCELLENT in applying a heavy stripper of any kind is a 3M undercoating gun. Most strippers mention using a brush or regular spray gun. I found using the undercoating gun under low pressure applies a nice heavy even coat of the stripper, therefore sealing the vapors in nicely. I found the NAPA brand stripper to work great in this gun. It's a heavy yellowish pastey stuff and works well. If you can heat up the panel in the sun first or if indoors use a heat lamp until the panel is hot, it really helps.
I'm sure this gun would work well with any heavy product.
When using a brush it tend to cause thick and thin uneven areas when applying. It also "breaks" the previous brush strokes vapor seal when you overlap it with the next brush stroke. So you end up with lines of stripped and unstripped areas.

http://cyberwerks.net/cars/cars.html

[BonzoHansen]

OK, a bit of an update. I tried the Peel Away 7 again. This time on my gas tank. I have changed my mind, I think this stuff works. This time it wasn’t a 1000* in the garage, and I scraped the first coat 24 hours after I put it on. A surprising amount of undercoating came off, and it is all softer. I am doing a second coat over the weekend. I also saw that my local Home Depot carries it, so it is easy to get for me. I will try to post some pics. The smell is not bad at all. But it does have an odor.

[BonzoHansen]

Home Depot --> Peel Away 7 --> wax paper --> dull putty knife & a small block of wood (of keep hitting the knife with your palm, which hurts after a while)

I just did my gas tank. This crap really loosened up the undercoating. I'll find some pics. Look in the paint & body section at pro-touring for more info.

Generally before, I actually started on the side part where you see the missing UC. But this gives you the idea of how thick it was on.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2006/12/th_IMG_0161s-1.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v359/SIBLY/My77Z28/IMG_0161s.jpg)
The magic tool. I kind of chipped away, but used a small block of wood to hit the handle. Notice the ends rounded off. No gouges. Some cratches, but 1) they will probably come off and 2) it's under the car.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2006/12/th_IMG_0223s-1.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v359/SIBLY/My77Z28/IMG_0223s.jpg)
After I am done, but still have to finish cleaning it. Then paint.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2006/12/th_IMG_0227s-1.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v359/SIBLY/My77Z28/IMG_0227s.jpg)
Here you see the paper removed with UC on it, and a pile of UC scrapings.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2006/12/th_IMG_0193s-1.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v359/SIBLY/My77Z28/IMG_0193s.jpg)

I left it on for a couple of days. The stuff seems to like the cooler air. I tried it in the summer and it dried out too quick. Now I could leave it on for days. 2 coats seemed to work. Coat, sit, scrape, repeat. It also seems to like sitting in the open air after pulling the paper off. Generally, it loosened the bond and allowed the material to scrape off.

They sell paper too, but I found regular wax paper works great.

It aint fun, but it is generally chemical free, UC is tough on wire wheels. Way easier to keep the garage clean. No kerosene.