Sanding ready for rust removal...

[Kirk]

Hey guys,

Just a quickie. I want to sand back the primer that is currently on the van, as ive got the money together for the rust repairs this week, and want to know the full extent before taking it to the repairer.....

Question: What do i need? grades etc...I know it sounds stupid but i have no idea about sanding, and i dont want to wreck it in anyway. Also quantities, as in how much paper etc (obviously just your guesses from personal experiences, there is no paint on it, just primer....and its the exterior plus inner doors.

[strez]

you have a couple of options sandpaper 40 to 80 grit or a clean and strip disc or wire brush on a grinder . just be carfull not to heat up the panel and warp it . best to talk to your local paint shop supplier to see whats avalible and what tools you need . grinder sander ect. I think grinder with wirebrush will be the quickest and will remove bog , fiberglass , primer and also some rust with out eating up the steel also doesn`t wear out like sand paper you can get wire wheels in different sizes and shapes to make life easier for around gutters and inside doors

[Bren]

are you trying to get it back to metal for the repairer to work on, or just to see what actually needs to be done?

[Kirk]

are you trying to get it back to metal for the repairer to work on, or just to see what actually needs to be done?

Combination, it is only covered in primer, which is very thin layer, im not sure i need to go as hardcore as metal brushes etc? or do i?, id be scared that would scratch the metal tho wouldnt it?

[strez]

no worse than sandpaper

[Brett]

sodablast?

[strez]

sodablast is expensive and only removes paint not bog glass or rust , if your going to that extreme i`d sand blast . we had a 58 chev sodablasted and it ended geting sandblasted cause left all the surfce rust behind 2 grand for sodablast 1500 for sandblast and primed . save your money and do it yourself 

[TOOLKING]

you can use a product called a stripper disc.
its basically an open fiberglass mesh disc impregnated with carborundum
they work on your angle grinder and will take you back to bare metal in seconds without damaginf the panel, they also work on fiberglass etc but can be aggressive on soft materials.
you should be able to get them from an Auto store in your area.
If you want to see what they look like check out the catalogue on my website, I have a picture there of them bing used on a VW bonnet the link is www.tool-king.com.au and then go to catalogue link
hope this helps
cheers
Heath

[Adam S]

Those stripper discs are awesome - I used one on a beautiful thick 800x400 stainless steel plate I got off a guy to use as a bbq plate - except it was blackened from him using it as a bbq for years... just used one of those stripper discs on the angle grinder and it was schmiko back to shiny stainless

[Kirk]

I actually saw something like that at Supacheap, seemed plasticky but thought it would work, wasnt game enough to try it, but now i rekon i will do that this week. Thats some great info guys...thanks. (Have to buy an anglegrinder tho lol)