TheSamba.com :: View topic - Removing aftermarket paint to get OG paint

Mon Jul 05, 2004 7:54 am

BTW just incase it hasn't been ask... DON'T USE ZIP STRIP! I tried it in a test area and well it is all the way to the Metal. :shock: :evil:

Mon Jul 05, 2004 6:30 pm

here is what i was doing so far: spray it w/graffiti remover wait a few secs use a putty scraper on it wipe it w/ water then i hit it w/ a rag full of mineral spirits

my problem is that with the putty knife, i wind up going too deep and get it right below the velvet green but above the primer so it looks like a chalky green. and in a few spots i hit primer and bare metal. any ideas of what to use besides the putty knife?

Mon Jul 05, 2004 6:36 pm

Give some very Fine steel wool a shot. I've been using the jasco stuff. Spray it on lightly, steel wool it quickly, and wipe. Once you get to the point that i can see some color just use the steel wool and water...again lightly. I went down to the metal in a spot or two before i got the system down but it's worked well for me so far.

Mon Jul 05, 2004 6:52 pm

On my 57 ice logo bus it was a matter of spray then wipe. Didn't scrape or scrub, didn't need to rinse or in any other way "neutralize" the graffiti remover. Yesterday, after being motivated by this thread, I tried the same technique on my 67 Westy. Worked just like it did on the 57, spray then wipe. The amount of time is not very long, and you will get the hang of it as you go. Scraping or scrubbing with anything seems pretty invasive.

Mon Jul 05, 2004 7:01 pm

jawohl did you use grafitti remover or jasco stuff? how long did you let it sit befor ewiping and did you use cheesecloth(what i have been using)

Mon Jul 05, 2004 7:04 pm

not sure i would call it progress?

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=78540

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=78541

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=78539

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=78538

coolinonair, thanks i will try and find some fine steel wool!!!!

Mon Jul 05, 2004 9:17 pm

Graffiti remover, pictured in earlier post. The wait times are varied although short, not even minutes, more like seconds. Some areas where paint is thinner are five or ten seconds, but there are spots on the Westy that were 30 seconds. I am hesitant to really nail down a time, because I think everyone's situation is going to be different. Just be patient, use a common sense "trial and error" approach, and know that you won't be done in a day or even a weekend, so don't try to be. We had great success using terry cloth towels.

Mon Jul 05, 2004 9:33 pm

my orange paint is thick as all hell then because it takes a lot to get it off!!! i will try by just using the "wipe "technique. we'll see tomorrow or so...

Mon Jul 05, 2004 9:34 pm

obus wrote: my problem is that with the putty knife, i wind up going too deep and get it right below the velvet green but above the primer so it looks like a chalky green. and in a few spots i hit primer and bare metal. any ideas of what to use besides the putty knife?
Elbow grease is the key. If you're using some kind of scraper or abrasive pad or something, you can easily go too deep. In the case of trying to find your OG paint, going too deep is bad.

Tue Jul 06, 2004 10:39 am

here is a pic of the rear of my bus, i did this as a trial a few months ago with wet and dry paper before i heard of the grafiti remover/ oven cleaner methods, hte pic make the corner look better than it is. I wont use wet and dry anymore its to slow and easy to rub through, and leaves swirl marks and a dull finish, guess it could be polished back up though.

Tue Jul 06, 2004 10:47 am

I used the jasco graffitti remover on our '60 singlecab over the weekend with very good results. I prayed it on let it sit for about 30 seconds and scraped the paint off with a stiff rubber squeggy. I then sprayed it with water and while it was wet CAREFULLY scraped the remaing paint off with a safety razor. It worked really good and doesn't scratch the paint!

Tue Jul 06, 2004 11:01 am

krusher wrote: here is a pic of the rear of my bus, i did this as a trial a few months ago with wet and dry paper before i heard of the grafiti remover/ oven cleaner methods, hte pic make the corner look better than it is. I wont use wet and dry anymore its to slow and easy to rub through, and leaves swirl marks and a dull finish, guess it could be polished back up though.

Keith- I think you will get great results with Easy Off as your paint is so thin and broken down already. Let it sit for a while and make sure it's out of the sun when you do it. I think you have the potential to have one of the nicest original paint Barndoor Kombis out there if you are careful and use some good polishing products. Keep us posted!

Tue Jul 06, 2004 5:10 pm

tonight i tried the "spray on the graffiti remover and wipe it off w/cheesecloth 2 seconds later" method. it did not work but i did use the putty knife on it right after i sprayed it on and i got it off a bit easier. maybe i wll try the "crofty squeegee" method next? i am going to try them all and see what my best results are. the oven cleaner did not cut it as i tried that about 2 weeks back.

Mon Jul 12, 2004 9:42 pm

Mon Jul 12, 2004 9:46 pm

This has taken me about 10 hours. Using lacquer thinner and 0000 steel wool. I am looking for a rear hatch and decklid for this bus in OG paint please help! It is a 1960 westie.

thanks dave

Tue Jul 13, 2004 6:38 pm

Well I just got a 66 hardtop westy yesterday and will be starting the paint resto right away. I'll go the Graffiti Remover route. From what I can see, there is plenty of healthy velvet green underneath that ugly metallic green sprayed in a camouflage mode. I'll also have to take out the black spray painted lettering reading "Rambo Van".

Before:

After 2 mornings of work:

Thanks for all the advice,
Cris[/img]

Mon Jul 19, 2004 3:03 am

I saw that graffiti remover really worked wonders on your bus. great. Im curious to see what Mr. Electric Wizard came up with.

Mon Jul 19, 2004 5:00 am

i have not had time or the weather to do mine much more than the photos i have in the gallery. with my schedule this week, it looks like i won't be able to strip more til next week!

Mon Jul 19, 2004 5:07 am

SuperSkim wrote: I saw that graffiti remover really worked wonders on your bus. great. Im curious to see what Mr. Electric Wizard came up with.

Man, I've been so damn busy for the last two weeks I haven't been able to do anything...
I'll have more time this week though! I will definately post some pics when I get more progress done... 8)

Tue Jul 20, 2004 6:33 pm

update: looks better than the orange already though i scrubbed a bit too hard w/ the scotch brite or left the graffiti remover on too long????

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=80684