Paint - Removal of Exterior Finish By Layers
90cadillac16
NO.: 91-1-7
DATE: Sept. 1990
GROUP: 0
CORP. NO.: 071002
SUBJECT: DRY STRIPPING FACILITIES NETWORK (DSFN)
Dry Stripping Facilities Network (DSFN) is a network of operators across the United States and Canada that uses a system which allows removal of a vehicle's exterior finish by layers (to preserve the rust protection of the vehicle coating and sheet metal).
The attached brochure is being provided as a source of information on DSFN products and services.
We believe these sources, their equipment, and materials to be reliable. There may be additional manufacturers of such materials and equipment. General Motors does not endorse, indicate any preference for, or assume responsibility for the products or equipment from these firms or for any such items which may be available from other sources.
NATIONAL NETWORK FOR NEW METHOD OF AUTOMOTIVE PAINT REMOVAL ANNOUNCED
At one time or another, most car dealers and auto body shops have had to deal with warranty problems related to paint and other coating failures. While spot-treatments are sometimes sufficient for solving these problems, more serious conditions will require stripping these surfaces down to a primer level, or all the way to the substrate panel, before re-coating.
New car dealers, saddled with correcting these problems, have had to resort to either chemical stripping or hand sanding. Both labor intensive, these methods can tie up a bay for a week, and in the case of chemical strippers, involve waste removal problems.
As an alternative method for removing these problem coatings, dealers can use thc services of the Dry Strippirig Facilities Network (DSFN). DSFN is made up of independently owned businesses that use dry stripping (also known as plastic media blasting) techniques for coating removal and surface preparation. Located throughout the U.S. and Canada, the Network currently has 70 members, and in thc not too distant future, facilities located in every metropolitan area in North America.
The process of dry stripping is similar to sand blasting, but uses equipment specially designed to propel and recover sharp edged non-toxic plastic granules. The light weight of the plastic allows coating removal at pressures ranging from 10 to 40 psi (normal operating pressures for other blasting techniques, e.g., silica sand, aluminum oxide, or glass beads, are typically in the 80 to 100 psi range). These low operating pressures, combined with the relative softness of these plastic particles, permit rapid removal of paint and other coatings from thin steel, aluminum, fiberglass, SMC, urethane, and other substrate materials without warping panels or damaging surfaces. Clad, anodized, galvanized and phosphate coatings are left intact. In many cases, paint can be removed layer by layer down to the base substrate, or just down to the primer coating if it is harder than coatings above it. Plastic body filler can be left intact, or removed as necessary. Surface rust can be removed also; but, deep pitted rust would require additional attention before repainting.
As an alternative to hazardous chemical stripping and laborious sanding, local DSFN members take the hassle out of stripping operations-often with same-day service. Vehicle or equipmcnt downtime is drastically reduced, and a clean, dry, ready to paint surface is produced-without chemical residues which can effect future coatings. Prices for dry stripping the outside of a car range from $300 to $600 depending on the geographic location, paint type and thickness, and size of vehicle.
For further information about the nearest DSFN facility or about dry stripping, contact:
Peter Merrill-Oldham
Dry Stripping Facilitics Network
79 Connecticut Mills Avenue
Danielson, CT 06239
(800) 634-9185 FAX (203) 779-1403
(203) 779-1401