Stripping Plastikote Primer

[av405]

Title pretty much says it all. About 2-3 years ago, I primed a body with grey plastikote primer. Left it alone after that but I want to strip it now since it wasn't my best primer job. It's been sitting in a bath of purple pond for the last 2 days but nothing has happened. The purple pond is about 4 years old and has been used before. Any tips? Thank you in advance. 

[peteski]

I'm not familiar with that particular primer but here are some strippers to try:

99% or 91% Isopropyl alcohol maybe?  And it should be warm (80-90 deg. F, not hot) to increase its potency.

Testors/Floquil ELO (Easy Lift Off) paint remover.

Scalecoat Wash Away paint remover.

 

There is a lengthy (sticky)  thread here about paint strippers (and there is a good chance that Plastikote is mentioned there).

 

Edited April 17, 2020 by peteski

[gman]

A few years back, I had to strip and re-spray a grill shell a few times before it worked out perfectly- I had sprayed Duplicolor lacquer over Plastikote red oxide primer. I used Easy Off aerosol oven cleaner, and after a good soaking (a few hours) it made the lacquer come off in sheets and removed about 95% of the Plastikote primer. Another touch up with Easy Off removed the remainder. I have had better luck with the aerosol cans of Easy Off than I have with the pump spray version- the pump version seems too diluted to strip lacquer based automotive paints and primers as well.

If you have a disposable plastic container with a lid big enough to hold the body, shoot a heavy coat of Easy Off over it, allow to sit in a sealed container. As the foam settles down, shoot some more over it and let it soak. Glove up, and go after the remaining paint with an old toothbrush. After rinsing thoroughly, polishing compound will help remove any remaining primer (and stains from the primer which have leached into the styrene).

[slusher]

I would change the purple pond bath if it’s 4 years old..

[av405]

Some good advice on here, thanks. It sounds like even when taking the age of the Purple Pond into account, it won't work with Plastikote. I'll try Easy Off.

[carrucha]

If you are going to use Easy Off, be sure to wear safety goggles, a face mask and an old long sleeve shirt because when you start scrubbing off the paint, it gets sprayed over everything and it burns when it hits your bare skin.  I know this from experience.

[gman]

59 minutes ago, carrucha said:

If you are going to use Easy Off, be sure to wear safety goggles, a face mask and an old long sleeve shirt because when you start scrubbing off the paint, it gets sprayed over everything and it burns when it hits your bare skin.  I know this from experience.

Good old sodium hydroxide aka caustic soda- corrosive, but it does do a number on paint.

[Deuces ll]

Plasti-kote and Dupli color are sandable primers.... Some 380-400 grit sand paper should take care of that light work....