How to remove paint from heater box

[HeavyHauler]

A previous owner spray painted my heater box black in my 1968 Chevy C10. How do I remove the paint without damaging the box.

I want to restore it so it looks like original.

[Myself]

Spray it down with EZ-off oven cleaner.....original formula. Wrap it with plastic. Let it sit 30-60 minutes. Power wash everything off.

[leddzepp]

I’ve had good luck with lacquer thinner

[PbFut]

From what i surmise while recently doing my ac box is that it is molded fiberglass using gel coat as a form releaser. I may be way off but it is a fiberglass box no matter. Search paint removal from gel coat. There are marine products that will not attack gel coat/fiberglass.

[HeavyHauler]

Yep I knew that. I just wasnt sure what to use that wouldnt damage the fiberglass and gelcoat.

[HeavyHauler]

I wonder if media blasting it with baking soda would be ok and not damage it.

[Richard]

Just sand off the paint. End up with last sand at 400-500 grit. Clear coat with gloss, semi gloss or matte. Will look great and be protected. I did my box in gloss clear. Wish I had used semi gloss and I still may respray. There are some pics in my build thread. I do believe the box is FRP (fiber reinforced plastic) not fiberglass. The clear coat will show all the fiber imperfections in the box just as it came from the factory, the sanding will just make it a bit smoother. Good luck with what you choose to do.

[Jason Banks]

I did like Richard says. Sanded it off and clear coat. Turned out great.

Alternatively I would try different solvents to see what softens the paint. Starting with pain t thinner(being the least harsh), lacquer thinner, acetone, denatured alcohol, etc... In my experience using a solvent seems to always leave some residue that I was never able to get off. So, I just sanded the rest off.

Not sure if this guy Chad is a board member, but here is a video he made of removing some spray product from doors using SOS pads:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxJMyhKtS20
There is some discussion in the comments about how coarse(what grit) an SOS pad is.

[Myself]

Originally Posted by HeavyHauler

I wonder if media blasting it with baking soda would be ok and not damage it.

Yes, that would be fine. You could even sandblast at something like 60psi and then wetsand and clear. But really man.......EZ-Off.......I'm surely not the only one here that uses that as paint remover. It WILL NOT harm plastics or fiberglass, it won't hurt steel, IT WILL eat at aluminum and turn it a dull grey. ANYTHING solvent based is a huge NO-NO on fiberglass as it can soften the resins in the part.

[HeavyHauler]

Originally Posted by Myself

Yes, that would be fine. You could even sandblast at something like 60psi and then wetsand and clear. But really man.......EZ-Off.......I'm surely not the only one here that uses that as paint remover. It WILL NOT harm plastics or fiberglass, it won't hurt steel, IT WILL eat at aluminum and turn it a dull grey. ANYTHING solvent based is a huge NO-NO on fiberglass as it can soften the resins in the part.

I am going to give that a try and see what it can do.

[HeavyHauler]

Well I tried the EZ and it was even the heavy duty high strength and it did absolutely nothing. I was hoping it would but it didnt.

[franken]

Maybe try paint remover.

[Myself]

Originally Posted by HeavyHauler

Well I tried the EZ and it was even the heavy duty high strength and it did absolutely nothing. I was hoping it would but it didnt.

WOW.......I've not come across any paint yet that the EZ Off wouldn't lift and wrinkle. I'm guessing what you've got there is probably a single stage poly. Guessing you'll need to sand it off.

It was this stuff right? Not the "fume free" or lemon scented crap.

[MrWhoopee]

I have found (unintentionally) that brake fluid makes a great paint stripper.

[Myself]

Originally Posted by MrWhoopee

I have found (unintentionally) that brake fluid makes a great paint stripper.

Yes it does!!