DIYbanter - View Single Post

Christopher Tidy wrote:
wrote:
When sanding what grade of sandpaper should I use? 220? 320?
I have a bosch hand random orbit sander.
Would that be an appropriate tool to use?
Many Thanks

I would be inclined not to sand them. I'd cover the shelves with
chemical paint stripper, leave it for maybe 15-30 minutes, then rub the
paint off with steel wool. This avoids scratching the metal with
sandpaper. Admittedly your new paint should cover the scratches, but I'd
use stripper and avoid the scratches in the first place. Check the trade
places in your area and you should be able to find a large can of
stripper at a reasonable price. Don't forget gloves and eye protection.

I haven't bought chemical stripper in years. I use brake fluid. I keep
old fluid for this purpose, but when I don't have an accumulation, new
fluid works fine. At $3/qt it's much cheaper than chemical strippers,
it's less caustic, and it works fine. If you need more it's available
almost anywhere, including the corner gas station/convenience store.
Apply with a paint brush, then go do something else. Currently have
an Atlas headstock saturated and waiting till I get home to finish it.