Summary for remove clear coat from aluminum Discussion
Clear coat on aluminum is the thread’s main issue: Stephen Pond asked how to strip clearcoat from aluminum running boards and then polish them. Ted Mooney said methyl ethyl ketone might remove some coatings, but warned that clearcoat formulations vary and the most likely stripper is Aircraft Stripper, which is methylene chloride and very noxious; he stressed goggles, gloves, and outdoor ventilation. Ali Khan added that many aftermarket wheels are polished aluminum rather than chrome, often clear coated, and that an acid cleaner may have damaged the coating; he said Aircraft Stripper may remove it, but without the clear coat the wheels will need frequent polishing. For a Jeep owner with peeling clear coat over chrome, Ted and Ali suggested trying Aircraft Stripper in an inconspicuous area, while Ted noted that if it does not work the finish may be anodizing instead of clearcoat. Ted also said oven cleaner can remove anodizing, but it is dangerous and can attack bare aluminum.
Q. I am looking for product information and tips as to what to use and how to strip clearcoat off Aluminum running boards and what to use to polish and renew … all info greatly appreciated, Stephen
Stephen Pond
autobody – Canada
2000
A. Hi, Stephen. thread 1550 suggests that it can be removed with methyl ethyl ketone ⇦ on
eBay or
Amazon [affil link]
. However, there are different clearcoat formulations and technologies, so that’s not a guarantee that methyl ethyl ketone ⇦ on
eBay or
Amazon [affil link]
would work for you, nor that it is practical. The most likely stripper is Aircraft Stripper, but this is methylene chloride, and quite noxious, toxic stuff. Goggles, gloves, and working outside for ventilation would be the absolute minimum safety requirements. Good luck.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com – Pine Beach, New Jersey
Need quick confidential answers? $25
Need project assistance? $100/hr.
Q. I have a set of chrome wheels with a bad clear coat on them. I would like to know how to remove the clear coat without damaging the chrome. What products do you suggest I use and should I re-coat the wheels? Just to give you an idea of how bad they look…think of looking into a mirror and pouring a gallon of milk down the side of it. You can tell there is a mirror back there, but it isn’t pleasing to look at.
Eric Harvey
– Chesapeake, Virginia
2003
A. I strongly doubt that your wheels are clear coated on top of chrome plating, Eric, because chrome plating is a final finish that does not need or use clear coating.
I mention this because stripping methods which might safely remove a clear coat from metal, like chrome plating, might also remove what you think is chrome but may be some sort of shiny paint.
Do you have good reason to believe that these wheels are actually nickel-chrome plated other than their shine?
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com – Pine Beach, New Jersey
Need quick confidential answers? $25
Need project assistance? $100/hr.
A. I just ran across this post while on the web. I have been in the aftermarket wheel industry for many years. Sounds like the wheels are polished aluminum, not chrome, and they could be clear coated or not. Most likely they are, and were cleaned with an acid based cleaner that damaged the clear coating. You might be able to use Aircraft Stripper, and remove the coating, then polish the wheels out, and enjoy, but w/out the clear coating, you will be polishing once a month. If you want to post a pic of the type of wheel, or give the name of it, I could tell you more on it.
Thanks, I hope I can help.
Ali Khan
– Gloucester, Virginia
2003
Q. In 1985 I bought a new Jeep Scrambler with the Laredo package, in that package it came with chrome wheels and they were clear coated from the factory. After 21 years the clear coat is now peeling off and the chrome under it is like new. I would like to know how to remove the rest of the clear coat without harming the chrome?
Rick Wilson
– Lake Havasu City, Arizona, USA
2007
A. Unfortunately, the engineers from auto companies are quite tight lipped, Rick, and I don’t recall seeing a single entry where an auto engineer clarified what the finish on his/her company’s parts was. Ali and I have already said that we doubt that it’s chrome plating if there is a topcoat on it, but try his suggestion of aircraft stripper in an inconspicuous area if there is one. Good luck.
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com – Pine Beach, New Jersey
Need quick confidential answers? $25
Need project assistance? $100/hr.
Q. I have a 86 CJ7 and have the same problem. The wheel are most definitely not polished aluminum.
Ken Wangen
consumer – Carrington, North Dakota, USA
2007
Multiple threads merged: please forgive chronology errors and repetition 🙂
Strip clearcoat from aluminum motorcycle frame
Q. I’m looking for something to remove clearcoat off of alum motorcycle frame. I have tried aircraft stripper which will remove clearcoat off of a car but not my motorcycle frame. I don’t want to sand it off because I’m going to polish it when I’m done. thanks.
glenn jordan
winchester Ohio
2000
A. I’m in the process of polishing my frame and I couldn’t find any chemical to take the clear off. I had to sand it off with 80 grit, then 120, then 180, 220, 320, 400, 600, 800, 1000, 1500, then finally
2000 grit. It’s a lot of work but man does it look good.
John G [surname deleted for privacy by Editor]
– Beltsville, Maryland
2000
 | Hi Glenn. “Aircraft Stripper” is very powerful (as well as noxious) stuff. ⇦ on eBay or Regards,
|
Multiple threads merged: please forgive chronology errors and repetition 🙂
2002
Q. I have a set of BBS Wheels that I need to remove the Clear coating before refinishing them. (small nicks and scrapes).
My question is I’d like to remove the Clear Coat (Heavy Urethane) before even starting to refinish and polish the wheels.
Any Suggestions? I would like to strip them but know that I need to use an Aluminum stripper rather than a traditional caustic paint stripper.
I know that a lot of elbow grease is in my future but am willing to put in the time for the right finish.
I have a compressor for re coating after I have polished the wheels back to where I want.
TIA
Mike Mullins
Hamilton, Ohio
A. Clear coat is fairly easy to remove and can be done safely if you use the right products. Contact your local paint job shop or talk to the folks at Eastwood Company. They can fix you up with the right product. Most clear coat removers are very similar to the thick type of paint remover gel
⇦ on
or
Amazon [affil link]
that you brush on–wait awhile–then wash off with a hose.
Good luck.
Bill Miller
– Shinnston, West Virginia, USA
2002
Q. I have a 88 K-5 Silverado and the clear coat on the aluminum mags turned yellow and it looks like crap. I have tried rubbing compound, Blue Magic, with cloth wheels, the rubbing compound worked on some parts but not on all the finish looks partly good but mostly yellow. I also tried gasoline, steel_wool, naval jelly, brake cleaner, brake fluid, alcohol, toothpaste, nail polish remover, and injector cleaner. I want to clean up the mags but I don’t want to scratch the surface. I can’t seem to get a consistent finish. I would appreciate any advice, or anything that I haven’t tried.
Thanks in advance,
Tim Samuels
hobbyist – Scranton, Pennsylvania
2003
A. Hi, Tim. It’s nasty stuff (based on methylene chloride) that should only be used with great ventilation and while wearing
goggles
⇦ on
eBay or
Amazon [affil link] and
rubber gloves
⇦ on
eBay or
Amazon [affil link] , but
“Aircraft Remover (Aircraft Stripper)” .
will remove nearly any paint or clearcoat. Good luck.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com – Pine Beach, New Jersey
Need quick confidential answers? $25
Need project assistance? $100/hr.
Q. I have aluminum wheels (American Racing) which the clear coat has a milky appearance like something has gotten underneath the clear coat. What can I use to remove the clear coat without damaging the aluminum? I’ve tried buffing it and using 2000 grit paper but it hasn’t touched it.
Renee Cosme
hobbyist – New Bedford, Massachusetts
2007
A. I’d try the Aircraft Stripper, Renee. It’s noxious stuff though. Use only with excellent ventilation, goggles, and rubber gloves
⇦ on
eBay or
Amazon [affil link] . But aircraft stripper will not hurt aluminum.
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com – Pine Beach, New Jersey
Need quick confidential answers? $25
Need project assistance? $100/hr.
Multiple threads merged: please forgive chronology errors and repetition 🙂
Clear coat paint removal from an aluminium wheel without generating pits
Q. We are stripping the clear coat painting from a aluminium wheel. After stripping again we are polishing it. After polishing lot of pit marks all around the wheel is visible.
Does anybody have any solutions to optimize my paint stripping process.
Regards,
ANBALAGAN ELAVARASAN
Assistant Engineer (mfg) – Chennai, Tamil Nadu & India
September 9, 2009
A. Is your strip process a secret? How can anyone know how to help if you fail to provide current information.
Normal paint strippers–organics–should not pit aluminum unless the parts are left in the solution too long.
A number of chlorinated solvents will cause pits IF you get water into the strip material.
The pits may be in the aluminum and were very clean or you may have opened up pores with an aggressive polish
James Watts
– Navarre, Florida
September 10, 2009
Q. Dear sir,
Thank for your reply. Our striping process is not a secret. We are stripping the clear coated aluminium wheel with a nitric acid with a concentration of 40%. And we will keep the wheel inside the tub for 30 min.
Regards,
ANBALAGAN ELAVARASAN [returning]
Assistant Engineer (mfg) – Chennai, Tamil Nadu & India
September 22, 2009
A. As a chemist, I would question the wisdom of stripping a clear coat with nitric. You normally select an organic solvent to strip an organic product.
If your wheel is a high strength aluminum alloy that contains a high copper content such as 2024 or 7075, then I would fully expect to see pits as the nitric will remove some of the copper, even though it is an alloy. It will be particularly bad if the part has been welded or improperly heat treated.
James Watts
– Navarre, Florida
September 23, 2009
Q. We are stripping clear coat painted wheel with nitric acid with 40% concentration for 30 min. We found lot of pitting after polishing the stripped wheel. Does any have solutions to overcome this or our stiping parameters needs to be changed please.
Regards,
A. Elavarasan.
ANBALAGAN ELAVARASAN [returning]
Assistant Engineer (mfg) – Chennai, Tamil Nadu & India
September 25, 2009