Classic Alfa Forums

met the guys at the nec today and had a chat about their process of paint removal

I've been toying with the idea of having the integrale shell done to save heaps of time and protect it into the future

I've given up completely on the idea of a chemical dip due to the issues some guys have had with future bleed from seams of the non removed chemicals, which have caused havoc with new paint etc
media/soda blasting is fine for the painted outside areas but that still leaves the insides of box sections untouched

the enviro strip guys do it somewhat differently.
the car first gets baked in an oven for a good while which removes most of the paint/underseal/filler etc
next step is to pressure wash the shell which removes the remaining dead paint
then it gets dipped in a tank with a much lighter rust removing solution, much less harmful than the dippers use as you haven't the paint etc to cut through, i'm told..
another wash down before it's then baked again in the oven for quite some time so that any remaining residue is thoroughly dried out from any hidden seams or box sections.

you can then either have the shell back as is in bare steel or pay extra to have it etch primed

I was quoted £895 for it to be done as above to bare metal
or another £475 to be done in 2K etch primer.
that's for the shell and all panels, like doors and bonnet etc

i'd be ok with priming it myself really so the £895 is money well spent as far as I can see.....as long as it does as described...the amount of time and cost involve in stripping out all the paint and underseal from a shell is more than you'd imagine

but has anyone any experience of this process? either directly with this company or outfits using similar techniques?

http://www.envirostripukltd.com/

That's a good price. I was looking at their site a few weeks ago..... I was only 15 miles away up until the start of the year. I drive my lorry up to Tamworth 5 days a week shame I don't have room to fit a sud shell in the trailer

That looks a bit more sympathetic than the notorious acid baths, but i would still have a little concern of warping in the oven, but it does look like they do main shell and body panel's separately so maybe im worrying needlessly?


Is the primer sprayed on or submerged?

If sprayed, there is going to be gaps or thin coverage inside deep channels and cavities i expect, so I'd be ready with some sort of lengthy straw arrangement for doing those areas asap upon its return

Ditto,
Like Shrew says, surely enough heat to remove paint and underseal is usually called "burnt out".
Joking apart, just heat seems a bit extreme to me especially thin Italian panels.
Have you seen any of their work Kev, would hate your shell and panels getting buckled.

they had a few shells there that they'd done along with a nice MK1 escort that had been done about 3 years ago he said...

the seams were very clean and looks like it gets everything out.

according to what I've read online the process takes 2 weeks or so, the shell goes in a big oven which has the heat turned up slowly, takes a day or more for the paint etc to be removed I read. this I guess also helps prevent any distortion, a slow cooker type process rather than a deep fry

the etch prime afterwards stage i'm not sure but I think it's done with a spraygun as advertised as being a 2K etch. dipped in a tank would be better. for the price of painting i'd probably skip that stage and do it myself so i'd know what was underneath the primer.

still weighing up whether it's worth doing it or just repairing what I can see. there are so many variables with all methods that there is no one correct method.

i'll fire off an email to them with a few questions regarding all above good points, cheers guys

I am finding the rain is doing a splendid job of removing the paint from my Sud!

Chris

there is a company in Preston that I use for stripping panels who do car shells in the same way, I've seen plenty that they have done, and they all have looked good, no distortion, and with some rust resistance even when in bare steel as the rust removing dip leaves a phosphate coating on that protects the metal. They charge £1600 ish for what is probably something very similar, - burn off, wash, rust removal, and primer paint. They are always busy, which is probably a good sign.
John.