"Fastest Way to Bare Metal"
Paint Stripping the Right Way

Panel stripping for professionals includes using an effective chemical...like Kleanstrip's Aircraft Remover. You know the drill...brush the panel with stripper, work on something else for 20 minutes, come back, scrape the surface, re-apply the stripper, and so on. As if you didnât know, paint stripping chemicals are not cheap...and neither is labor. Follow a few simple rules and your chemical and labor costs will drop. Oh, and by the way, the third reason to work smart is your own pride of workmanship in a job well done!

1. Prepare the surface. Mask off areas that donât get stripped with a good quality 2" tape. Also mask any openings or crevices the stripper might get into. Donât skip this step .... stripper can bleed back through paint applied to these areas.
2. Specific instructions for individual strippers vary somewhat, depending on whether theyâre paste or liquid. Aircraft Remover is an energetic, heavy-bodied stripper especially made for autobody use. Pour the stripper into a disposable can and apply with a chemical resistant brush. Donât work the stripper into the surface too much, in fact you should only brush in one direction. Agitating the stripper will actually reduce its potency!
3. Hereâs the step most people omit: Cover the treated area with 2-4 mil polyethylene and secure the film at the edges. The chemicals that break down paint films will evaporate prematurely if you donât. This step is particularly important if youâre stripping factory-applied primers or multi-layered paint systems. If you are stripping a really tough finish, you can also try 2 other tricks: A. Abrade the surface with 40 or 60 grit sand paper. You donât need to do much more than break the surface of the paint film. The stripper will work faster since the surface area will be increased. B. Assuming youâve applied the film mentioned earlier, just leave the stripper on the surface longer .... up to 2 hours is O.K. Keep the surface wet with stripper.
4. Remove the film and scrape down the panel. Use steel wool on crevices and details. Aircraft Remover can be rinsed with water, so take the easy way out! If youâre worried about any stripper that stayed behind in crevices, the only reliable way to get it out is with steam.

Now you're ready to proceed with a really clean panel to get good results. If you won't be working on the panel for a while, it's best to use a silicone-free protective coating to protect prevent rust or corrosion.