Paint - Stripping/Finish Analysis & Correction: Overview
Number 85-2-5A Date 8/85Subject: PAINT STRIPPING AND FINISH ANALYSIS AND CORRECTION FOR THE NEW CAR PREP TECHNICIAN
The corrosion protection provided by the factory metal preparation and primer cannot be duplicated in a body shop; therefore, the finish should NOT be stripped down to bare metal unless absolutely necessary. This is particularly true if the primer was applied by electrodeposition (ELPO), which greatly enhances the corrosion resistance of the vehicle.
Only strip the areas that require stripping. If only part of the roof needs to be stripped, then strip only that part of the roof, not the whole vehicle.
Some of the conditions that require stripping down to bare metal are:
1) Rust
2) Body work
3) Cracked primer
The following are conditions that require only the topcoat to be
stripped leaving the factory primer intact:
1) Cracked topcoat
2) Peeling paint
3) Excessive film build
Checking the Condition of the Primer
If you are not sure if only the topcoat or the complete finish needs to be stripped, then use lacquer removing solvent to remove the lacquer topcoat from a small area. Clean this area with a rag soaked in a slow reducer. Dry the area and examine it with a magnifying glass. If cracks or pinholes are present in the primer, then strip only the defective areas to bare metal, otherwise only strip the lacquer topcoat.