Stripping paint from windshield trim

[Shadowrider6661]

Do you know what that chemical is called?

I haven't had time to try anything yet. Oven cleaner might work - not sure - have used it on painted surfaces before as a degreaser and it didn't do much.

No, I don't know what the chemical is. I do know that there is a couple different types, I had a couple of the canes I designed stripped by two different shops. The first one left the metal a mess that required a lot of work to re-polish, the other left the metal in perfect condition. Sorry I can't tell you what the stripper is called.

 

[Brianranger]

Has anyone tried stripping the black paint off of 1st/2nd gen windshield trim?

I had to visit five junkyards to find a set that wasn't trashed with hail dents. Problem is, some of it is chrome, some is black! I want all chrome. The black paint does seem to come off - I have some extra pieces that time and weather have halfway stripped, I am sure the factory just applied some sort of paint to the same parts, or left it chrome, depending on trim package.

Brake cleaner won't touch it, Alumabrite (phosphoric acid for cleaning aluminum wheels) did nothing. Also tried lacquer thinner, deglosser liquid, couple other things... no luck.

I would prefer to chemically strip these instead of sanding. I guess I will sand them as a last resort and then polish...would like to avoid that if possible. Any ideas? I'm not real sure what kind of metal I'm working with, it's probably stainless but could be aluminum maybe.

I have a bunch of extra junk pieces so plenty to experiment with! Shoot the ideas at me!

Did you try the obvious thought Paint stripper ?

 

[Brianranger]

Did you try the obvious thought Paint stripper ?

1
Didn't mean to sound like a smart ass but paint stripper should not hurt metal , pressure wash it off , just a thought, good luck

 

[Shran]

Did you try the obvious thought Paint stripper ?

1
Didn't mean to sound like a smart ass but paint stripper should not hurt metal , pressure wash it off , just a thought, good luck

It depends, some chemicals will react with some metals and etch, dissolve, discolor, or do some other undesireable side effects.

I bought some gel paint stripper today that I'm going to try along with the various other ideas hopefully this weekend. I tried to find aircraft stripper but apparently that is not available right now? Not sure what's up with that, used to see it all over.

 

[Bird76Mojo]

I'd definitely try the more gentle stuff first. Like the citrus based kind from Walmart.

 

[Shran]

Well y'all... I tried a few things. "2 Minute Strip" gel does not touch it. Lacquer thinner/brake cleaner/carb cleaner does nothing. Acetone seems to soften it a bit but it evaporates before it starts to work. Oven cleaner did nothing except discolor the metal in one spot where the paint was weathered off.

The only thing that actually worked was Rustoleum aircraft stripper. It softened the paint up to where it can be scraped off... multiple applications will be required for sure but at least it works and I only have one piece to do (the bottom.)

So now we know.

 

[BlackBII]

Well y'all... I tried a few things. "2 Minute Strip"

Thank you for not posting pictures of that

 

[Shran]

Thank you for not posting pictures of that

I'll try that next time, probably will scare the paint right off it