Stripping Camper Paint Down to Aluminum

[@rallycatgarageharvey1135]

Great video. The plastic sheet was a trick I didn't know. Thanks for the video. Cool trailer. 👍👍😎

[@3rdstallgarage]

Thanks Harvey. Sorry for the slow response. We traveled for 7 weeks with the trailer and put on 8000 miles this summer. It served us well.

[@gerdavandijk8371]

thanks for this video. I have a 1959 Talisman camper that I'm restoring. just ordered the stripper and plastic. excited to start this! thanks again.

[@3rdstallgarage]

Good luck!

[@deirdre444]

Wow. Thank you so much. We've got a 1963 Aristocrat that was painted John Deere green and yellow before we rescued it. Really appreciate seeing how, and what product to use, to do it. Thanks!

[@3rdstallgarage]

Sounds like a fun project. Glad it helped.

[@ninamartin1084]

Beautiful job, great result - so cute!

[@3rdstallgarage]

Thanks. We love the little camper

[@horsebewithyou]

This is EXACTLY what I needed - thank you!

[@3rdstallgarage]

You are welcome. That’s great to hear.

[@TentandLantern]

This is PERFECT! I’m stripping paint off a 1965 Frolic. I had been doing the Citrus Strip in 30 minute intervals, but it seems like overnight is the way to go. Thanks!

[@3rdstallgarage]

Good luck!

[@michaelchristensen6430]

Thank you so much for doing this. I’m in process of stripping a 1968 roadrunner and I’ll be using this method

[@3rdstallgarage]

Sounds like you have a fun project too!!

[@GordoTwinke]

Awesome job! Very informative video and straight to the point. Going to use this exact method on my 1980's Alaksan Camper

[@3rdstallgarage]

Great! I'm glad I did it and I'm glad it helped.

[@BrettHoustonTube]

That looks so much better. I was replacing the trim and weather stripping and used Goofoff and it removed the paint. I was freaking out thinking I would have to repaint the whole thing, but it's easy to wipe it off with Goofoff.

[@3rdstallgarage]

It’s useful stuff.

[@itawad]

This is exactly what I needed. I do have an aircraft propeller spinner which painted back. Thank you

[@3rdstallgarage]

You're very welcome!

[@joshtonry4291]

Nice job. The key bit I took from this, and I've been doing body work for years, was to use the plastic to keep the stripper from drying out, Genius! and I love your canned ham. We have a 1953 Chevy COE and a 1953 Michigan Arrow 2 axle 32 foot canned ham with 2 doors. It's huge.

[@3rdstallgarage]

Glad you found something of value. Two 53’s. That’s awesome.

[@riseofthephoenixclan]

U answered all my questions at the end lol Thank u

[@3rdstallgarage]

Great.

[@kricketkitty]

Great job! Thanks for sharing your painting adventure. 99% of the rv painting advise out there says sand vs strip the paint. If you were going to repaint instead of going to the metal, would you still strip the paint and repaint or just rough sand and paint over the old paint? I have a 30ft vintage aluminum Avion that is still silver, as the original looked, but it's been painted silver on top of the aluminum, is flaking and looks terrible. At first the thought of painting it myself was overwhelming, but after talking to several painters and watching many instructional videos, I think I could do it as long as I had confidence in the correct process and had the right materials. Sherman Williams told me to sand, prime with their special metal primer and paint with their special metal paint. So that's been on the back burner for a year as I keep revisiting what to do as more and more paint keeps flaking off. Then today I learned about the option of stripping the paint to bare metal and then saw your compelling video of how effectively the paint can actually come off with stripper. That seems way easier than prep sanding with an orbital sander, but maybe not as I've never done either. Sanding is messy, dusty, vs stripping is goopy messy. And after seeing your video, I can't help but wonder what the original aluminum looks like under this crappy paint. If its in good shape I may not even need to paint. But then again if it was in good shape why would someone have painted over it?! Thanks for any advice.

[@3rdstallgarage]

It's just me, but I would TOTALLY try stripping it in a little area and seeing how it goes. If you paint over pealing paint, it's hard to be confident it won't keep peeling. I've never owned an Avion, they are pretty cool, but I'd try stripping it first. At least get all the easy stuff off, then you can see if you like the looks and if not then paint it.

[@kricketkitty]

@@3rdstallgarage Thanks! That's what I concluded over the last week, start with a small area that's not overwhelming. The stripper and orbital sander arrive this week : )

[@janetmccann2043]

I have wanted to do my aluminum sided house for years. Kind of like a DeLorean house. The paint is oxidized and coming off anyway. People think I am crazy but now you have rekindled my idea. I read to keep aluminum from oxidizing it should be clear coated. I am going to try it on unpainted aluminum columns on my carport first.

[@3rdstallgarage]

Interesting idea. I know that old airstreams used to be uncoated aluminum and more modern ones were clear coated for that reason.

[@MichelleCouplandHairStudio]

I have a tag a long that all the paint is already stripped. I’m remodeling it, but want this look in the end.

[@3rdstallgarage]

Thanks. I do love how it turned out. It's a cool 1950s/60s look in my opinion.

[@myovalsplit]

great video, I tried it a year ago but gave up because it didn't work so well. But I have the original paint and a facade paint from the previous owner. Do you have a tip for me which remedy exactly I should take?? My gel was probably not strong enough. greetings Mark

[@3rdstallgarage]

I can see where some paints may be harder than others. I think I had an original layer of paint. The longer the stripper sits on top of the paint wet the better it will work if it dries then it stops working. Putting plastic over it helped tremendously. Good luck!

[@myovalsplit]

@@3rdstallgarage OK, thank you for the answer

[@paul30silver]

If I had something like that with the brushed aluminum look I'd have to give it that oil in water look with indigo and deep purple swirl look - nice shop too!

[@3rdstallgarage]

You should! Thanks.

[@beatricebentler8055]

I’m stripping our 1963 Yellowstone. Did you use a more intense product for fine work? I’m having trouble with the corner rails that have all been painted 3-4 times.

[@3rdstallgarage]

No. On my more stubborn parts I just put it on thicker and made sure that I covered it with plastic so that it couldn't dry out and left it sit for a good long time. Some paints do just peal easier than others.

[@JohnnyTidmore]

Your videos are concise but complete. Thank you! If you decided to paint it, what paint would you suggest?

[@3rdstallgarage]

Thanks. I know very little about painting...yet. I will have to sometime with my 66 Mustang project. I think most people use a good automotive paint.

[@faceformers]

Thank you for sharing your process! I am just about to do the same and know what to expect based on your experience. It's going to be messy! 😝

[@3rdstallgarage]

Messy, yes. Rewarding and fun…absolutely!!

[@faceformers]

@@3rdstallgarage Oof so far I can't say it' s been fun at all hahahaha. Much of the paint left a residue that is not coming off easily. I've spent 3 full days working on it and I sill have a good 3 more days to go. I don't recommend doing it alone.

[@Tillbilly]

What stripper did you use , I'm doing a enclosed trailer as we speak, I found a pressure washer works best instead of a scraper , it don't get the chance to dry out

[@3rdstallgarage]

I used citrustripp from Lowe’s or Menards. Power washer is a good idea.

[@McCuneWindandSolar]

I just wonder if you just used a power washer to get the Paint off after the Paint stripper set a while.

[@3rdstallgarage]

Yes, that would work nice except thaty you would end up with all of the chemicals and paint in your driveway.

[@kurteichler9280]

How do you fix split aluminum on the side of a vintage trailer, just picked one up, and it has, a 1ft cut, on the corner towards the front?

[@3rdstallgarage]

Sorry for the slow reply. I have a small gauge that I fixed with Jbweld, but a 1' cut may require you to fabricate a patch (easy way...small piece of aluminum, butyl tape and some screws) or a bigger task of replacing the whole piece of aluminum sheet metal skin on that part of the trailer. Good luck!

[@lukesmith3172]

Just what I needed!

[@3rdstallgarage]

Great!!

[@icecreamladydriver1606]

Did you repaint the trailer? Thanks for telling us about that paint stripper as I am redoing 1966 Oasis and trying to decide how to go about the stripping and repainting. I plan to do a rattle can rustoleum paint job. I did that on another trailer and it really turned out nice.

[@3rdstallgarage]

Nope. I plan on leaving it bare aluminum. I may give it a slight polish sometime along the way or paint a color strip to give it a little flash of color.

[@icecreamladydriver1606]

@@3rdstallgarage Thanks.

[@charlesreagh5390]

Will you add any extra coating or wax to keep the aluminum looking great?

[@3rdstallgarage]

Planning on leaving it raw. The old patina look should stay. If we polished it, then we would need to keep polishing it.

[@humanityincvideos5114]

Does that work in cars too?

[@3rdstallgarage]

Paint Removal Lessons Learned Final (Pt. 9 of 1966 Beetle Restoration) kzbin.info/www/bejne/b2Src2pmoLOdiLc I just posted a video about that this weekend!! I hope this helps.

[@Mytoya2]

Wow 😲!!! Do you think this would work on a horse trailer?

[@3rdstallgarage]

If it's an aluminum trailer, it should work. Steel trailers would need to stay painted to avoid rust.

[@ajanders100]

How many bottles of the stripper did you end up using? Looking to do this exact thing to my retro camper!

[@3rdstallgarage]

I don't remember off the top of my head. I thought I said so in the video. I think it was 3-4 bottles...not sure anymore. Good luck with your trailer. I love it stripped. I hope to polish it someday.

[@DV8fromthenorm]

Very helpful. Thank you!

[@3rdstallgarage]

Glad it was helpful!

[@johnvanderploeg9333]

I am making an offset smoker from steel barrels. I was going to burn the paint off. But I think I will use citrus strip now. Thanks!

[@3rdstallgarage]

Glad I could help! Share pics of the smoker when you are done.

[@cindybundrick3469]

How do you keep it off the windows? Do you cover them first?

[@3rdstallgarage]

It's not hard to keep it off the windows and it doesn't hurt it at all if you get it on the windows. At least it didn't to mine.

[@missmaryfabela98]

Love it! But does it make it hot and attract the sun?

[@3rdstallgarage]

I didn’t test it carefully but I think it actually reflects MORE heat.

[@larrysee7306]

What happened to all the stripper and dissolved paint? Maybe a big drop cloth under the trailer would catch most of that mess?

[@3rdstallgarage]

Yes, my drop clothe caught almost all of it. A few big blobs fell on the concrete and I cleaned it up after it tried. It scraped up pretty easily.

[@pahu47]

@@3rdstallgarage Thanks-you make it look easy!

[@DV8fromthenorm]

0.29 seconds, am I the only one who saw a pig in the sample? 😂

[@3rdstallgarage]

Lol...it looked more like a big buffalo to me!! Thanks for making me laugh.

[@paul30silver]

Awesome!! "It's about as beautiful as a manila envelope" pmsl!

[@3rdstallgarage]

Right?!

[@stevenhaze123]

Doing this today on some van doors for my food truck build. 88 p30 all aluminum body. Not sure I have it in me to strip a truck or that size 18 long 7 high box lol

[@3rdstallgarage]

I hope it goes well!

[@panzerdan867]

How did it go? I have a p30 I want to strip as well

[@humanityincvideos5114]

So I can do this on my car?

[@sidvwaircooled5969]

Anyone else have luck stripping their aluminum p30? I’m about to do mine as well.

[@montec3113]

Are you polishing it out?

[@3rdstallgarage]

I'd like to, someday, but don't have the time right now.

[@gownsmashing]

Sooo helpful! Thank you!!

[@3rdstallgarage]

Glad it helped!

[@McCuneWindandSolar]

I have a Vintage 1976 Kit Road Ranger Travel Trailer. Its in good shape but dose need work. They took and painted it back and orange to match Harley Davidson colors. Well Black is not a good color for a Camper. So what I want to do is strip it down to bare Aluminum So I can then Paint it White or what ever vernation of colors my wife wants.

[@3rdstallgarage]

Sounds like a nice project!

[@GemmaSummersPI]

Thank You.... thank...thank 😊 you

[@3rdstallgarage]

You're welcome 😊

[@ESLinsider]

Cool how long did that take you?

[@3rdstallgarage]

I don’t remember the hours for sure…one weekend of hard work.

[@ESLinsider]

How much of that stuff did it take to remove all that?

[@3rdstallgarage]

I think it took about four bottles of it.

[@saralampert4383]

How much citristrip did you use?

[@3rdstallgarage]

I don't remember off the top of my head, but it's in the end of the video.

[@dwb289]

Kick ass!

[@3rdstallgarage]

Even now, a few years later, we are still really happy we did it.

[@fredpatton4055]

Looks like should be an easier way. Maybe pull out in the yard and do the first plastic scraping step, except for using a garden sprayer instead of paint brush and water hose.

[@3rdstallgarage]

Thanks. That would be a lot of paint and chemicals in the yard. Not sure I'm comfortable with that. Overall I don't think the process was too hard.

[@ProspectorShaun]

Tried this did not work 😅

[@3rdstallgarage]

Sorry that this didn't work for you. I wonder why. Maybe you had a higher quality paint than I did.

[@tanamaraqueen2906]

Haha looks like the same effect of a black head nose strip lol

[@3rdstallgarage]

Interesting.

[@KevBotWorkshop]

I spy with my little eye.. BEV!

[@3rdstallgarage]

I kinda like her.

[@richarddebeer9081]

Purple Power works much, much better.

[@3rdstallgarage]

I didn't have as much good luck with that. I'm glad, if it did for you.

[@4486xxdawson]

To some this looks good to others you ruined a original paint vintage camper , personally i liked it better painted and if i was going to strip one down id remove every window and door and light and do it 100 % , but again i wouldn't have stripped that camper , i like mail so no problem with manila envelopes lol ....

[@3rdstallgarage]

Thanks for watching. I like that we can all have our different opinions. I don't think this paint was original to the camper. If it was original, I would have been much more hesitant to remove the paint. It's interesting to me how one color looks great to one person and boring to the next. It's a good thing there's variety in the world!