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Removing Factory Wax Treatment
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MarkWard
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PostPosted: Mon Dec 15, 2014 12:54 pm    Post subject: Removing Factory Wax Treatment Reply with quote

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
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PostPosted: Mon Dec 15, 2014 1:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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
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PostPosted: Mon Dec 15, 2014 1:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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.
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specialev
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PostPosted: Mon Dec 15, 2014 1:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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
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PostPosted: Mon Dec 15, 2014 1:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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
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PostPosted: Mon Dec 15, 2014 1:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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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PostPosted: Mon Dec 15, 2014 2:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Try some straight lacquer thinner.

I tried mineral spirits, brake clean, wax/grease remover, etc. All of them work to some degree, but the lacquer thinner worked the best, imo.

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PostPosted: Mon Dec 15, 2014 2:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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.
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Terry Kay
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PostPosted: Mon Dec 15, 2014 11:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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.
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PostPosted: Tue Dec 16, 2014 6:38 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

^^ What TK said. I prefer the steam wash technique.
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PostPosted: Tue Dec 16, 2014 7:32 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

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.
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insyncro
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PostPosted: Tue Dec 16, 2014 7:56 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have a Hotsy heated power washer with wet sand blasting attachment.

Kiss all that stuff bye bye Exclamation

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.

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Jeff's Old Volks Home
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PostPosted: Tue Dec 16, 2014 8:15 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Snap-On Crud-Thug. It's weapon of choice for this job.
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RCB
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PostPosted: Tue Dec 16, 2014 8:41 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

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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PostPosted: Tue Dec 16, 2014 9:07 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Jeff's Old Volks Home wrote:
Snap-On Crud-Thug. It's weapon of choice for this job.


On the vehicle....hell yes Exclamation
One bad ass tool Wink

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PostPosted: Tue Dec 16, 2014 10:20 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

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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PostPosted: Tue Dec 16, 2014 10:22 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

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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PostPosted: Tue Dec 16, 2014 10:43 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

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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PostPosted: Tue Dec 16, 2014 11:46 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

This? http://www.wmbarr.com/product.aspx?catid=102&prodid=209
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PostPosted: Tue Dec 16, 2014 1:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

rsxsr wrote:
This? http://www.wmbarr.com/product.aspx?catid=102&prodid=209


Thats the ticket.
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