How to strip the coating off the light guards

[seals777]

I have a 96 disco with the light guards, ladder, and cattle guard. All their coatings are beginning to delaminate and rust. The light guards are by far the worst so i decided to work on them first. I picked off all the delaminated parts and used a wire wheel grinder on the parts that we still good but did not have much success. So I took the 2 upper light guards and 2 lower bumper light guards to our local metal shop in Tahoe to have them sand blasted at $95/hr. They told me it should only take them 5 minutes to clean them up. After 15 min the guy came back and had only completed one of the small light bumper guards. He said he wasn't going to charge me and that I should go get some Jasco from the hardware shop. I was to apply it and in 10 minutes the coating should be easily scrapped off and then I should bring the parts back to him for clean up...

After buying the spray on and that not working he said I needed it in the gel form...
Bought gel form, metal can, brush, scrapper, rubber gloves, and still nothing...

So what is the coating on these parts, what solvent will strip it, and what media would be best for media blasting for clean up. I think he originally tried using plastic pellet.

Thanks for the response

 

[whydahdvr]

I don't know but working on old Army jeeps I've heard that Chem Dip works great for cleaning things up. That might be hard to find though. Kerosene is helpful. What about plain old paint remover/stripper? You probably will need to leave it on there a while and recoat periodically. Does anyone know if it's a metalic coating that has been electrically bonded to the metal beneath? This is a bit out of my experience range.
Just some suggestions.

 

[alzerom]

It's probably a powder coat with a plastic covering. Mechanical removal is in order. The plastic is so thick the plastic pellet blastings were inadequate. Chemicals won't touch the fully cured plastic (or any fully cured plastic). I could suggest a sharp blade, then paint over it. This will probably outlast the vehicle itself. Remember these are Land Rovers and a little manure on the tires is a good thing!

 

[David Warner]

I was wondering if you could recommend a process or chemical solution to strip powder-coated aluminum. My company operates a small finishing department and periodically we have to re-coat. The only solution we've had any luck with is an alkaline methylene chloride-based solution that we are looking to replace. We've tried a few other solutions, including an acidic (pH ~2) benzyl alcohol-based solution with no luck.

 

[alzerom]

When most plastics complete the polymer reaction they are not reducible with a chemical agent. Think about vinyl seat covers and bakelite knobs. Sulfuric acid is not a workable solution and too toxic for the environment.

There are a few plastics that can be "welded" if you know what the plastic is. The plastic type is determined by melting/firing in an open flame and determining the color temperature of the flame. It is too much work and energy to torch a plastic off metal, (cheaper to buy a new bumper).

The alkaline methylene chloride-based solution mentioned my get replaced by the EPA anyway or force you to get a closed system like dry cleaners were mandated years ago.

David Warner's description (above) included an alkaline solution (pH not specified but probably greater than 12) and an acid with a pH of 2... (stomach acid has a pH of 2 by the way).. and none of it seems to work.

Gnarly bumpers give Rovers character!

 

[frankie]

just had my rear ladder done,we have are own powder paint shop
to remove the old coating l was told to burn it off as this is the only
way to do it.All burnt off now ( still not that easy to remove ) into shot
blast from there a clean off in the paint shop dip tanks then onto powder
coating .Now look like new,next job front and rear bumpers maybe
i will use a soft pad on them

Regards Frankie