just wondering if any of you have suggestions for stripping valve cover paint? I've sanded some of it but it's taking so long lol. Any suggestions appreciated

 

yeah, aircraft stripper...

 

Aircraft paint stripper $5 at autozone.

Spray it on, leave it for 10mins. Then repeat. Then rinse/scrub with gloves on.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ek forever guy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Aircraft paint stripper $5 at autozone.

Spray it on, leave it for 10mins. Then repeat. Then rinse/scrub with gloves on.</TD></TR></TABLE>

yep. **** works great. Make sure you have access to a hose, steel wool, and a scraper. Dont touch it. If you do, dont touch your face/eyes/anus.

You will need to wash the hell out of the valve cover inside and out to make sure that the stripper is all gone. It's the same as having sex with a stripper...you have to make sure you wash very well afterwards.

Keep it away from rubber or plastic. Use brake cleaner to once your valve cover is dry. Inside and out side the valve cover. Brake cleaner galore. This will help dry out the aluminum a little bit for paint prep.

After the brake cleaner COMPLETELY DRIES, put the valve cover in an oven at about 250. Then paint.

 

find a friend with a sandblaster....pretty quick and easier than aircraft stripper. lol

 

And make sure the spray paint is heated up to a nice warm room temperature also.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by B serious &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Keep it away from rubber or plastic. Use brake cleaner to once your valve cover is dry. Inside and out side the valve cover. Brake cleaner galore. This will help dry out the aluminum a little bit for paint prep.

After the brake cleaner COMPLETELY DRIES, put the valve cover in an oven at about 250. Then paint.
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Pro's Before Ho's

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by B serious &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> yep. **** works great. Make sure you have access to a hose, steel wool, and a scraper. Dont touch it. If you do, dont touch your face/eyes/anus. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Im getting Nam' flashbacks already

 

Thanks guys, I'll look into the aircraft paint stripper tomorrow! How long should I leave the valve cover in the oven at 250 for???
here's a picture of why I want to repaint it haha

 

did your battery blow up in there?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JDM_902 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Thanks guys, I'll look into the aircraft paint stripper tomorrow! How long should I leave the valve cover in the oven at 250 for???
here's a picture of why I want to repaint it haha
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You dont need to leave it in there too long. About 20 mins or so should do it. You can even do a higher temp if you want. Basically, you're getting all the water out of the porus cast aluminum surface, and you're getting the puddles from the nooks and crannies. Make sure it's 100% water free before painting and especially before reinstalling. Try to shake as much water off of it before you put it in the oven. This will help it dry faster.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RMXmitch &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">did your battery blow up in there?</TD></TR></TABLE>

One could have, I'm not sure though. I picked up this 93 hatch for $500 just for the B18B1. It's been fucked around with alot, I wouldnt be suprised if a battery blew up in the bay at some point lol.

 

yea, everything under your hood could use a makeover dude - make a nice spring/summer project.

 

+1 for sand blasting

 

aircraft stripper. was, i believe, $8-10 for the spray and $6-8 for the goop. the goop works better if used right but, takes a longer process plus you get more than the spray.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Probot &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">yea, everything under your hood could use a makeover dude - make a nice spring/summer project. </TD></TR></TABLE>

If I had the time I would, the valve cover is in the oven as I type. I'll post some pics up in a few minutes

 

I found that "Dads paint remover" available at walmart works great. It's thinner than aircraft remover so it gets into all the small places. It also comes in a spray bottle which is SOOOOOOOOO much easier to use. It works just as good, if not better.

 

B serious is entirely INCORRECT!! - sorry, just wanted to try and offset your sig


EDIT: B serious is probably correct, or knows what hes talking about lol

 

-1 for sand blasting maybe the sandblaster i was useing sucked cause it was almost ineffictive and time consuming paint stripper works great...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 1sickEJ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">-1 for sand blasting maybe the sandblaster i was useing sucked cause it was almost ineffictive and time consuming paint stripper works great...</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yeah, Im not a huge fan of sand blasting either. IMO stripper is alot easier to remove with a hose, simple green, or brake cleaner. If you get sand in the baffle you will have one hell of a time getting it out. And even if you feel you have flushed all the sand out there is still that chance that there is sand somewhere. Most places that PC use chemical stripper anyhow.

 

yeah it really depends on the sandblaster you use, i did a valve cover and i used a sand blasting booth that recirculates the sand particles and it worked great

 

Not trying to thread jack...but once finished stripping the old paint, and baking it to ensure its dry...how do you come up with a paint job thats as clean and professional looking as these:



What kind of paint do you use? what kind of process do you go through?

 

Holy **** that 2nd engine bay is spotless...
oh and here's a pic of mine stripped, I kinda wanna polish it instead of painting it black, but who knows!

 

Yeah, but the second bay isn't finished if you notice his throttle cable isn't hooked up etc.

BUMP - One of you gurus has to know how to paint a valve cover that clean

 

Good paint, a good painter and a good paint gun. Not just high temp spray on paint most people use