Removing Paint from Fiberglass

[Patty S.]

I pulled my tires from my Uhaul to paint the rims. I would like to remove the red paint from the wheel wells that is there from the previous owner. But I don't know what to use. My fingernail takes little spots off, but It would take me forever. Please help.

Thanks so much.

[Phillip]

I pulled my tires from my Uhaul to paint the rims. I would like to remove the red paint from the wheel wells that is there from the previous owner. But I don't know what to use. My fingernail takes little spots off, but It would take me forever. Please help.

Thanks so much.

I would try acetone also known as fingernail polish it worked good for me ..

[Bill K]

Acetone will soften fiberglass, be careful.

Bill K

I would try acetone also known as fingernail polish it worked good for me ..

[Andrew Gibbens]

Acetone will soften fiberglass, be careful.

As will normal paint stripper.

But used very carefully, paint stripper is what I would use - leave it just long enough to soften the paint (the start of bubbling?) but not long enough to reach the fiberglass underneath.

You would need to buy plenty as the first experiments will involve wiping it off before it has done its job - too short a time (not softened the paint) is a much better outcome than too long a time (damaged the fiberglass), so expect to do most areas more than once.

Andrew

[Raya]

A sharp scraper may also work, although you need to be careful not to gouge the gelcoat (if there is any where you are working). Clipping the corners of the blade can help with that. You say "from the wheel wells" so perhaps you are talking about an un-gelcoated area inside the wheel well?

There is also sanding, depending on where you are taking the paint off.

It would help if we could see the area, and knew more about the surface.

Raya

[james kent]

We scraped the outside with a razor blade knife to remove the "Previous owner" paint and then sanded the primer until we got down to the gelcoat.



Here's the trailer with only the top half painted and we camped with it that summer. In the fall we painted the rest.



Here it is with a new primer and two coats of marine paint.

[Darwin Maring]

I would purchase a quality rubber type of undrecoat (in a spray can) or brush on truck bed Hurckliner (not spelled correct) and cover over what is already there.

Go To www.jcw.com for the Hurck rpaint on bed liner.
Advance Auto for spray on undercoat.

DR

[Raya]

Although, I wouldn't want to spray undercoating onto a failing, peeling paint surface, if that's what is there now. Can you tell us more about what you have, and/or post photos? It's so hard to recommend when there are many variables that we don't know about.

Raya

[Harry Young]

Patty,

Aqua Strip
Environmentally friendly.
Marine paint remover for fiberglass.
Leave on all night as its slow.

http://www.ibacktonature.com/Pages/m...astrip-PD.html

Harry

[Booker B.]

Wow Harry, I wish I had known about that product last year when I had my painted Trillium. Have you used this product yourself?

Booker

[Patty S.]

Thanks, everyone . I ended up wet sanding the wheel well area. I started with 400 grit sandpaper, then ended up finishing with 1000 grit.