stripping door pillar?

Topic: stripping door pillar? (Read 2701 times) previous topic - next topic

stripping door pillar?

July 02, 2006, 10:15:25 PM

if i stripped the paint off of the door pillars to give it that polised look how would i do that?

i saw a cat somewhere that had it done and it looked good.

if i did this with regular paint stripper would that work or mess up the metal?

will it look like my trim around the windows?

i know that the little strip that isnt painted on the divieder looks like the window trim but is the stripper going to change the finish of it?

stripping door pillar?

Reply #1 – July 03, 2006, 01:09:49 AM

See if you can't take it off! If you can then sand blast, and clearcoat.

Also stripper might pit the metal, and splash on other parts of the car. You could always try sanding.

Not an expert.

Daniel

stripping door pillar?

Reply #2 – July 03, 2006, 11:44:30 AM

Quote

See if you can't take it off! If you can then sand blast, and clearcoat.

Also stripper might pit the metal, and splash on other parts of the car. You could always try sanding.

no offense but....stripper might pit the metal but you suggest sandblasting....lol

they sell a paint stripper that is a gel. you wipe it on, let it sit and then wipe it off. if it were me id try that first and then hand polish it as you would any metal. if its aluminum it should be no sweat. unfortunately, i dont think it is. likely the one you saw was a stock one that happned to be chrome.

stripping door pillar?

Reply #3 – July 03, 2006, 01:14:23 PM

I may be mistaken, but I remember reading somewhere that someone blasted off the black with a pressure washer. That would probably be safer for whatever's underneath.

stripping door pillar?

Reply #4 – July 03, 2006, 01:38:12 PM

so if i tape off the other trim and windows and pressure wash it they will come off? some one one coolcats did that to their car but didnt saw how may psi. i dont want to do a job that doesnt work and looks shiznitty.

another question about pressure washing can i do the botttom of my engine bay, you know were all the oil gets every where when it gets changed. or is a steam cleaner the betterway to go?

stripping door pillar?

Reply #5 – July 03, 2006, 01:52:50 PM

I normally use regular water pressure to clean my engine bay, but then again, I do it on every oil change. Steam is probably the way to go for that, but if all you have is a pressure washer, just run the engine till its nice and warm, hit the grease with some Gunk Foamy Engine Brite, then spray it off with the pressure washer. As for the B pillar, I don't really know how much pressure to use, all I know is that someone has done it with a pressure washer.

stripping door pillar?

Reply #6 – July 03, 2006, 01:53:25 PM

I think when the 1983-86 cars were new, some company made some stick-on chrome pieces for the B-pillars. I know this because when I bought my '84 in 1987, there were some cars in my area with the chrome B-pillars.

You could try using the stock chrome Mark VII B-pillar panels. They might retrofit into your door panel. Otherwise you would have to strip and polish your pieces. You can use aircraft stripper on them...they'll be fine. Been there, done that dozens of times. Once all the paint is off, just polish them to your heart's content and reinstall.

stripping door pillar?

Reply #7 – July 03, 2006, 02:09:04 PM

do i have to take them off? i dont want to bend them. were do i get aircraft stripper and how hard is it it do? polishing isnt a problem but is there a certain wax or compond i should use

stripping door pillar?

Reply #8 – July 03, 2006, 02:39:51 PM

When you open the doors you'll see screws holding the one section (B-pillar to car frame) on; remove the screws and it pops right out. On the door section itself, lower the window and open the door. Grab the pillar part and pull it toward the back of the car; it will slide out slightly. Then, push it outward (to unhook) and toward the front of the car at the same time. It's a big tricky but you'll figure it out. There are two sets of retainer springs that hold the panel to the door frame. You shouldn't really be able to bend them unless you're impatient, then for sure they will. :)

Aircraft stripper in a spray can (aka "The Can of Death" LOL) is available at good parts stores and auto paint supply stores.

The aluminum on those panels isn't really that soft but it is thin. A lower buffing speed (~1500-2000 rpms) is best. If the panel has a lot of deep scratches then you'll have to sand them down first. You could start with a medium-to-fine cut compound (red). Usually what I did was went right for the finishing compound (white). It seemed to give good results. Remember also to wear gloves, eye protection, etc. around the buffing wheel, and to always use one wheel per compound.

stripping door pillar?

Reply #9 – July 03, 2006, 02:46:06 PM

what is red aand white? is that the color of the compond? it is just a regular buffing compond right?

stripping door pillar?

Reply #10 – July 03, 2006, 02:52:42 PM

Yes, just different cutting strengths. Red is medium-to-fine, white is finishing.

stripping door pillar?

Reply #11 – July 03, 2006, 02:55:26 PM

what is cutting strength?

stripping door pillar?

Reply #12 – July 03, 2006, 04:11:03 PM

Cutting strength is the abrasiveness of the polishing compound. I believe the compound Eric is referring to comes in a stick that you apply to the wheel. The different colors refer to the cutting strength (the abrasiveness is color coded).

stripping door pillar?

Reply #13 – July 03, 2006, 04:40:27 PM

got it. thanks going to try it when i get back it town

stripping door pillar?

Reply #14 – July 04, 2006, 12:28:41 AM

Quote from: shame302

no offense but....stripper might pit the metal but you suggest sandblasting....lol

What I meat was the stripper not being fully removed, thus the cemical still eating the metal, also the stripper, depending on which is used, could react differently then expected.

That was the effect I meant to go for. lol Might have to relearn my english.:D

Daniel