18 replies to this topic

[m_brady15]

Hello everyone,

Im about to start stripping back my mini shell for a complete respray.

I can't afford to get it acid dipped or anything like that, so im doing it myself.

Is the best way to remove the paint by using nitromoors? If so how much nitromoors will I need and where is the best place to get it?

I'm open to all other ways of removing the paint.

Is using sanding pads a bad idea?


Many thanks

Miles

[lrostoke]

Nitromors will cost a fortune, you need loads of the stuff.

I've only tried this on small areas such as bonnets and boots but paint thinners and something like 240 grit paper works well. You can get 5 litres of gun clean quality thinners for about £10

[Ethel]

I'd just sand it, if the paint's well stuck on it'll be a better base than bare metal.

[Sam14]

Standard paint stripper from a local DIY store - not to sure it would work

Wire brush on a drill - be careful not to start going into the bodywork with it though

Grit/sandpaper - to build those muscles that you never new you had?

Or park it in a rough area and hope that some chavs throw paint stripper over it seeming as thats the latest craze with them?



* i am not suggesting all chavs are in that manner before you start whaling away

[clambert81]

I've taken mine back to bare metal. It took £10's worth of paint stripper to get most of the paint off on the underside of the bonnet and then I had to end up sanding it. I've used a 120 grit sanding disk in the angle grinder on a slowish speed.

[jack_marshall]

Paint stripper can be risky if theres any hidden remnants your fresh paint job could be spoilt.

If your bare metaling the shell then 80 grit on a DA is the best way. You'll still need to strip the fiddly bits by hand though.

If your current paintwork is good then you dont need to bare metal, only bare metal and sort the problem areas.

[joe90gt]

I'm taking mine down to bare metal with those scotch brite dics on an angle grinder it aint cheap or clean but very effective and quick, paint stripper could contaminate and is a pain to clean off, cheap enough if you buy bulk from a specialist, finishing off with a DA and a delta sander, if the paint is OK just sand it ready for the new coat, you don't want to make work for yourself, dont forget to get your panel degreaser, tack rags etc etc as well

[Timify]

Theres two options i use, thats either a flap wheel or a wire wheel. Both attach onto an angle grinder.

[AVV IT]

A bare metal respray realy is a huge amount of work for very little reward. I've always just rubbed down the existing paint work thoroughly using a sanding block & a fine grit paper, then blown over a coat of high build primer before rubbing down again to fill any imperfections in the old paintwork. To some extent the extra paint thickness of the old paint beneath can also give some depth to the new colour too.... & whilst I have no doubt that a pro autorefinisher will disagree this.... If you choose to strip back to bare metal, at the end of the day the only person that will know that you went to all the effort of a bare metal respray will be you!!

[rossimini]

i would suggest sandpaper as you will have better base to paint over, but thats just my opinion

[clovus]

I've always been worried about just sanding the existing paint and then the new spray job coming out poorly so have gone the bare metal route each time. Sure it takes longer, but everything seems to take longer on a mini, like there's some sort of bizarre mathematical equation at work - time taken is inversely proportional to the size of the car. Try a polycarbide sanding disk, will take off rust and paint pretty effectively. Wear a dust mask and ear plugs....

[frenchie851]

well there is sand blasting but then you have to start worrying about warping your pannels so apparently a nwer thing is soda blasting. More gentle but realy does get rid of your paint!

[samsfern]

soda blasting is good just dont hold it in one place for a long time

[m_brady15]

Thanks for the information guys

Miles

[zbc]

A bare metal respray realy is a huge amount of work for very little reward. I've always just rubbed down the existing paint work thoroughly using a sanding block & a fine grit paper, then blown over a coat of high build primer before rubbing down again to fill any imperfections in the old paintwork. To some extent the extra paint thickness of the old paint beneath can also give some depth to the new colour too.... & whilst I have no doubt that a pro autorefinisher will disagree this.... If you choose to strip back to bare metal, at the end of the day the only person that will know that you went to all the effort of a bare metal respray will be you!!

I agree with this, I have taken my mini back to bare metal with the scotch brite wheels. Its a huge amount of work.