Removing Paint

[nimrod]

I'm not sure exactly what kind of paint that SS used in the early 60's (gold), but it is some outstanding stuff. I'm doing some repairs to a jointer, and having a heck of a time getting it cleaned off.

I've tried commercial paint stripper, which crinkled it a little bit in a few spots, but didn't actually remove it.

Sandblasting works, but it takes forever. Even after the stripper, it takes about 2 minutes to get a dime size spot down to bare cast iron. I did some other tools and car parts at the same time, so I know the nozzle was working. I didn't have any problems with those.

How do I remove this stuff?

[Bruce]

If it's on that good, why remove it? :)

[nimrod]

There's a big ugly crack that needs welded.

[dusty]

Can you accomplish a good weld without removing the paint?

It sounds like the original finish is a base you don't want to lose.

[nimrod]

Probably not. According to my welder, the whole thing has to go into an oven to pre-heat the iron so it doesn't crack more.

[dusty]

I guess that's the price of doing it right.

[manvelar]

I'll bet the pre-heating in the oven might remove a lot of the finish. After that, smooth it all out with a Sand-o-flex (google it).

[billmayo]

You stated that when sand blasting, about getting down to the cast iron. The few 60s Shopsmith I have worked on are all sheet metal and aluminium castings. Where is the crack in the Shopsmith. If it is a headstock, I would recommend buying another headstock from either jacobvb or ruggs59 on Ebay. I have brought from each seller. Yes, I had to have a couple of ears welded that holds the eccentric bushing. I was lucky to have a friend who is a aircraft welder that welds aluminium to do the job for $25.00 on each headstock.

I use a big 8" industrial 1 HP grinder that I put a 8" steel wire brush on the long shaft and a brass wire brush on the short end. The steel wire brush will actually remove paint plus aluminium if held too long in a spot. I use the brass one to remove corrosion and polish the aluminium surfaces. It takes about a hour to do a headstock including using a 1/2" wire brush, used for cleaning around values pockets in a engine head, to clean the little pockets of paint that the 8" did not get. A 6" wire brush took too long for me and not enought power. A 6" may work for you if you have the time and patience.

Bill Mayo

I'm not sure exactly what kind of paint that SS used in the early 60's (gold), but it is some outstanding stuff. I'm doing some repairs to a jointer, and having a heck of a time getting it cleaned off.

I've tried commercial paint stripper, which crinkled it a little bit in a few spots, but didn't actually remove it.

Sandblasting works, but it takes forever. Even after the stripper, it takes about 2 minutes to get a dime size spot down to bare cast iron. I did some other tools and car parts at the same time, so I know the nozzle was working. I didn't have any problems with those.

How do I remove this stuff?