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MarkWard Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2005 Posts: 17014 Location: Retired South Florida
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Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2014 12:54 pm Post subject: Removing Factory Wax Treatment |
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Hello, I am replacing a damaged rocker panel with a used panel. There is a factory wax type coating on both parts. For clean up and welding, I'd like to remove this wax. I had a little luck with mineral spirits. Any recommendations that will remove it easily? Thank you.
P.S. I did search Wax prior to posting. _________________ ☮️ |
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buildyourown Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2009 Posts: 1668 Location: Seattle
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Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2014 1:16 pm Post subject: |
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I've had good luck with a wire brush. The small SS ones. After all these years its pretty hard and seems to come off easily if you have access.
I'm sure there are solvents that will cut it but I like to get what I can off mechanically to limit my exposure to the nasty stuff. |
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MarkWard Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2005 Posts: 17014 Location: Retired South Florida
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Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2014 1:32 pm Post subject: |
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I have had good luck removing the seam sealer with a heat gun, putty knife and a wire brush. This wax is a little more trouble. For one, any grinding dust seems to easily stick to it. When I grind or weld, it melts from the heat, and in some cases has flared up. I'd be surprised if a steel brush would remove it entirely. It might catch the heavy top, but welding sheet metal it needs to be clean and rust free. _________________ ☮️
Last edited by MarkWard on Mon Dec 15, 2014 1:32 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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specialev Samba Member
Joined: March 25, 2011 Posts: 281 Location: Mukilteo WA
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Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2014 1:32 pm Post subject: |
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I used plastic scrapers and a wire brush.
The other thing that works well on a large scale is a hot pressure washer or just hook up your cold water pressure washer to your hot water tank. That's what I used to strip the underside of my doka. |
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MarkWard Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2005 Posts: 17014 Location: Retired South Florida
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Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2014 1:35 pm Post subject: |
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Unfortunately don't have access to a steam jenny. Plus, I have bare metal now that would want to surface rust immediately and the van is immobilized in my garage. So pressure washing is out. I was hoping for some sort of liguid agent that would cut it. _________________ ☮️ |
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specialev Samba Member
Joined: March 25, 2011 Posts: 281 Location: Mukilteo WA
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Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2014 1:49 pm Post subject: |
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I wish I had a proper steamer. I use the hot water tank contents. I just clear out the the area around the car and wash in the garage. Gives me a chance to clean the floor while sweeping out water too. If you've got bare metal you can combine the cleaning with your metal prep for primer by putting on Jasco or phosphate etchant once it's clean but still wet. This will help grow a good oxide layer or convert any actual rust to something the paint can stick to better.
You could also try Acrysol. Strong solvent and very effective against organic compounds. |
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61Scout Samba Member
Joined: November 06, 2011 Posts: 1297 Location: Shoreline/Yakima WA
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IdahoDoug Samba Member
Joined: June 12, 2010 Posts: 10239 Location: N. Idaho
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Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2014 2:46 pm Post subject: |
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rsx - are you talking about the yellowish stuff VW used to use called Cosmoline? If so, you can google it and there is a standard retinue of things to remove it. _________________ 1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1988 Toyota Supra 5 speed targa, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader |
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Terry Kay Banned
Joined: June 22, 2003 Posts: 13331
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Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2014 11:15 pm Post subject: |
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X2 on Lacquer Thinner.
Soak a rag and allow it to soak in, and wipe.
No easy answer--other than hot water pressure wash prior to doing the work. _________________ T.K. |
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CdnVWJunkie Samba Member
Joined: February 01, 2004 Posts: 1107 Location: Sarnia, Ontario, Canada
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Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2014 6:38 am Post subject: |
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^^ What TK said. I prefer the steam wash technique. |
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Terry Kay Banned
Joined: June 22, 2003 Posts: 13331
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Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2014 7:32 am Post subject: |
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Or a guy could take a heat gun, warm the area up--then quickly wipe it down with the lacquer thinner.
There really is no easy answer to removing the panel wax, undercoating, whatever, prior to doing the panel prep & welding other than hot water pressure washing, which is a little sloppy where your at now in the panel replacement.
Shoulda done that prior to digging into the work process. _________________ T.K. |
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insyncro Banned
Joined: March 07, 2002 Posts: 15086 Location: New York
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Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2014 7:56 am Post subject: |
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I have a Hotsy heated power washer with wet sand blasting attachment.
Kiss all that stuff bye bye
Before owning this machine, I would soak suspension parts in a 16 gallon barrel filled with old gasoline and diesel fuel.
It will melt the waxes and underbody materials if given a little time and some aggitation.
Last edited by insyncro on Tue Dec 16, 2014 10:23 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Jeff's Old Volks Home Samba Member
Joined: December 19, 2011 Posts: 819 Location: Chester Basin, Nova Scotia
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Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2014 8:15 am Post subject: |
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Snap-On Crud-Thug. It's weapon of choice for this job. _________________ www.jeffsoldvolkshome.com
2004 Jetta TDi Wagon
2002 Smyth Ute TDi
1990 Vanagon weekender Syncro AAZ
1987 Syncro Doka AAZ...soon to be TDI
2014 DL650ABS Xpedition
1986 Weekender Syncro (Under construction)
1987 Westfalia (Under construction)
1987 Syncro Single cab |
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RCB Samba Member
Joined: September 05, 2005 Posts: 4143 Location: San Francisco-Bay Area
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Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2014 8:41 am Post subject: |
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How about a Jasco type of stripper. The thick stuff will stay put and once its done its job simply rinse up with some Lacquer Thinner. |
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insyncro Banned
Joined: March 07, 2002 Posts: 15086 Location: New York
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Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2014 9:07 am Post subject: |
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Jeff's Old Volks Home wrote: |
Snap-On Crud-Thug. It's weapon of choice for this job. |
On the vehicle....hell yes
One bad ass tool
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MarkWard Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2005 Posts: 17014 Location: Retired South Florida
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Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2014 10:20 am Post subject: |
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Heat Gun and Lacquer thinner it is. I happen to have both. If I were doing this for a living, I could justify some of the tools that would expedite this process. Thank you Samba. _________________ ☮️ |
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MarkWard Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2005 Posts: 17014 Location: Retired South Florida
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Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2014 10:22 am Post subject: |
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IdahoDoug wrote: |
rsx - are you talking about the yellowish stuff VW used to use called Cosmoline? If so, you can google it and there is a standard retinue of things to remove it. |
It is actually Cosmoline? I had no idea. It is so thick in places, I did not recognize it. Thanks _________________ ☮️ |
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RCB Samba Member
Joined: September 05, 2005 Posts: 4143 Location: San Francisco-Bay Area
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Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2014 10:43 am Post subject: |
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rsxsr wrote: |
Heat Gun and Lacquer thinner it is. I happen to have both. If I were doing this for a living, I could justify some of the tools that would expedite this process. Thank you Samba. |
Keep in mind that Lacquer Thinner is a very fast drying solvent. Combine that with some heat and it will dry even faster. Might not stay wet enough to do any good. On the other hand the Jasco type strippers....the ones that are thick, will stay put and gobble up anything in their way. Among some of the things they will remove are ....your skin..Lacquers..Polyester coatings...Poly Urethane coatings..2K Urethanes..pre and post cat coatings..and of course Cosmoline. |
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MarkWard Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2005 Posts: 17014 Location: Retired South Florida
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RCB Samba Member
Joined: September 05, 2005 Posts: 4143 Location: San Francisco-Bay Area
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Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2014 1:07 pm Post subject: |
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Thats the ticket. |
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