The Easiest Way To Remove Powder Coat!

Here's another quick tip - the easiest way I've found to remove powder coating. It works best on steel and non-structural aluminum parts. Enjoy!

[@comment_deleted]

This is the best “this method really works” video I’ve ever seen

[@AlexLTDLX]

Glad it helped

[@RadioFixer]

The best video about this subject on KZbin. Excellent job! Thank you!

[@UnskilledGrappler]

I used an angle grinder with flap discs to remove the bulk of it from my rock sliders, but this will help me get the the powder coat out of the corners/pockets. Thanks!

[@LG-yy2up]

Great video, I do this often with my 4Runner skid plate and always looks new👍

[@PrimalNomad]

That's my bull bar sorted 👌. Few cans of gas is far cheaper than sand blasting. Thank you!

[@chrislizon7483]

I tried your trick last night, it still takes a while, but at least I can do it with a torch in one hand and a beer in the other. Can't say that about sandblasting. Way less mess than sandblasting too. In my case though I could only use it on smaller/thinner pieces. My little plumbing torch couldn't get 3/16 plate steel hot enough to burn the powder coat. However on the thinner stuff I could burn the powder coat off and just do a quick sandblast to get the ash and soot off.

[@butziporsche8646]

If it’s mild steel hearing it to red heat won’t harm it but you might distort it so that it no longer runs true. I was going to us stripper on my DAS roll bar but burned it off in minutes with a 8# rosebud and oxy-acetylene. This is a great video as I tried methylene chloride and gasket remover and it would have taken 10 coats and a lot of scrubbing and I’m too lazy. This is the best removal method I have tried.

[@ellenj9969]

I went through the same process, tried various things before settling on the blowtorch method, which works. I had first tried oven cleaner, paint strippers, as well as setting the item inside the oven (temperature set on “clean”), none of which worked. The oven idea was my husband’s idea, and I’d advise against that because, as I suspected, the house became filled with toxic smoke. Bad idea. We survived that crappy little experiment and next, I placed the metal items in a bonfire outside. The bonfire did remove the paint, however, my husband decided to place burning logs (without me knowing it) on top of the item which was made of thick steel wire. Well, I went outside and found the items deformed by the weight of the wood because, combined with the heat of the fire, the metal bent. Ruined items. So I had to order new powder coated items and start all over again. This time, I got the blowtorch and burned it off outdoors, while running a heater with a good blower fan, to blow away the smoke while keeping me warm in the cold weather. I discovered I had to hold the torch on there long enough for it to really smoke, then turn ash gray. After that, the paint was dry and brittle and came right off. So I agree, the torch method is best, and you don’t have to inhale paint stripper fumes. I started all this with half a brain, and now that I’ve inhaled toxic fumes from the oven cleaner, toxic fumes from the paint stripper and toxic fumes from the cooking oven set on “clean”, I can now officially say that I’m left with only 1/4 of my original 10 brain cells. But I do have some clean metal to show for it. :)

[@AlexLTDLX]

Glad it worked for you. I've tried all kinds of stuff, and this really is the best method in my experience.

[@UnskilledGrappler]

Awesome comment haha

[@Eye_4_An_Eye]

yup lol ive tried acp remover on my oem painted wheels and it is no match for the quality of toyota paint. i KNEW a torch was going to be my only hope and this video proved my theory. gonna be a long day for this project lol

[@kanepatching1779]

Thanks heaps mate, you just saved me a bunch of drama!

[@cc6722]

Great tip.Thanks A Bunch. Now I'm gonna try this on some steel items I have. How would welds react to this way of removal?

[@AlexLTDLX]

Would have no significant effect on steel welds - not hot enough. It might affect aluminum hardness if you get too happy with the torch, but it would still be unlikely to be significant. It might warp thin stainless if you overheat it; but the stainless would have to be very thin and again, you'd have to go nuts with the torch. Regular steel isn't likely to be affected at all. Mother. Tell your children not to look my way.

[@dekonfrost7]

Best video on this subject

[@melvinrubio2278]

Thanks for the video. I definitely need to try this after a failed attempt at sandblasting the paint off.

[@AlexLTDLX]

Yeah, sandblasting powder coat takes forever.

[@adampoulin9251]

Thanks for the tip, I had sent my Banshee to powder coating and some parts came back with powder on threads wich has seized stuff up and makes it difficult to screw bolts

[@ManVsOven]

Yeah, the shop was supposed to use high-temp silicone plugs in all the bolt holes... I just did a 4-wheeler frame, must have used 20+ plugs

[@mamyers171958]

Thanks for the idea. I changed it up a bit and put the parts on my gas grill. I kept the temp between 550 and 650F. After 15 minutes the smoke stopped and the powercoat was ash. The smoke that comes off is nasty. Be sure you're outside and keep the fumes away from yourself and neighbors.

[@AlexLTDLX]

Good idea!

[@doughaber3330]

Better clean that grill before cooking on it.

[@hardcore4476]

Thanks for the tip! However not sure if I can do this to my vw calipers. Not sure if there aluminum or steel.

[@AlexLTDLX]

You'd have to strip the calipers down completely. The heat will destroy the seals on the pistons.

[@byrdguu]

Its called burn off. Industrial coating companies burn off fixtures, messed up parts, hangers and hooks using this process. Faster and better than chemical strip in some cases

[@GMPC]

I’m a powder coater and I use stripper but for ppl at shine with a old stove in garage I would bake it. Just turn stove all the way up and put part in it for couple hours d the it will come off easy. I’ve done this before I got the chemical Stripper

[@Phuong_Nguyen_]

What would your suggestion be coilover springs? I don’t wanna use heat because the heat may weaken the spring.

[@cbradiomizfit7562]

3:26. What did you wipe it off with? Was there a chemical cleaner on that white rag you used or just plain rag?

[@AlexLTDLX]

Nothing. It's literally just ash at that point.

[@hydrocarbon8272]

HONEY! WHY IS YOUR SEARCH HISTORY FILLED WITH "STRIPPERS"??!

[@iamvictoriakaroline1603]

I had my bike powder coated and they covered parts that aren't supposed to be painted - so I can't reinstall the parts. Can I use this technique on small parts of a whole piece without ruining the coat on the rest of it? Or, how do I remove powder coating from just a small portion of metal that are aside parts that need to stay coated? Basically, the four brake stems needed to stay bare metal.

[@AlexLTDLX]

You could try, but it probably would be difficult to control. Unfortunately it sounds like it might be best to use mechanical means - sand paper or something similar. If the powder coater screwed up, I'd bring it to their attention.

[@jayfinesse8228]

Well this work on rims

[@jamesappleyard4529]

Man I wish I had seen this a month ago. After many hours of sanding and using stripper to clean up a small truck tray😤😤😤😤😤😤

[@mr.cangieter8758]

May be a stupid question but what about doing this on aluminum wheels?

[@AlexLTDLX]

It's probably ok, but you could accidentally anneal the wheels. I'd be very careful.

[@joshuagarcia9057]

Would this work on a valve cover without warping it???

[@AlexLTDLX]

Most likely.

[@SittingWithDogs]

Hey guys. Is it ok to use a soft polishing pad and some polish on powder coated items?

[@AlexLTDLX]

To polish the powder coat? You could wet sand it, and then finish with plastic polish. All powder coating is is literally plastic dust that's then melted together in an oven at between 400-475* F.

[@jenicotia]

Can I use this on powder coated stainless steel kitchen rack?

[@AlexLTDLX]

Yes.

[@Micscience]

I don't know why I didn't think of this since I did this by accident once. Thanks for sharing you just got me out of a jam. I just hope my pipe doesn't warp o.0

[@AlexLTDLX]

If it's steel you'd have to get it way hotter than necessary to burn off powder coat to warp it.

[@Micscience]

@@AlexLTDLX Depends on the thickness of the steel.

[@JacobLeeson-zk1ol]

@@MicscienceNo. thickness doesn’t matter it’s only related to temperature. The reason why you are perceiving it as being related to thickness is because thin metal is easier to heat. Propane burns very hot. Much hotter than you need. Thin metal does a poor job dispersing the heat that’s all.

[@babsb5632]

It is possible to strip powder coating from a metal fence panel that is soldered.?

[@AlexLTDLX]

If it's soft solder in other words regular solder. Then that'll melt before the powder coat burns off.

[@mancavemotorsports]

Damn this woulda helped me 4 air craft remover baths and pressure washes ago🤣 all good my stuff is sand blast ready now, next time

[@bishoff5803]

Thanks I powder coated a part. And came out horrible. In a fit of rage i flung it into the woods. Now have been searching for it the past 20mins after seeing your vid.

[@AlexLTDLX]

I don't mean to laugh at your misfortune, but I did laugh at your misfortune. Glad this helped!

[@dennis900]

Would it hurt or help if a MAP gas torch was used?

[@AlexLTDLX]

Probably help. It's more heat. Just keep it moving on the part to get the whole part up to temp.

[@robbiyoung85]

Just in time. I can sit back relax and crack a cold one, then get to buildin

[@AlexLTDLX]

Lol. You're freakin' hilarious. :)

[@THX..1138]

I like!...Another tip may be to put the part in an oven and preheat it to 400 or so to make the torch work go faster.

[@AlexLTDLX]

That's a good idea!

[@williamzoom]

Are you done with the Whipple or is this for educational purposes only?

[@AlexLTDLX]

Sorry - this comment slipped by me. Not necessarily, it depends on how well the electric Vortech works out.

[@TheRedboy262]

Will this effect the welds on my dirtbike frame ?

[@TheRedboy262]

Steel frame

[@AlexLTDLX]

No. Should be fine. Just don't let anything start glowing.

[@richardlee6735]

Work in powder coating , on small parts sit them outside on hot day in acidtone and will look like a new part , or on low heat on stove top .. no sanding just falls off

[@robinkelly6484]

How long does this take and what type container can be used '

[@NYskyHI]

What would you use on large parts like steel bumpers?

[@UnskilledGrappler]

@@NYskyHII used an angle grinder.

[@finger00]

How about a wire cup on an angle grinder?

[@AlexLTDLX]

It works but takes forever, throws sharp little wires permanently into your shirt and socks, and doesn't get into the corners and every crevice. Fire is much better.

[@richardhouse7997]

Would this warp 0.036" thick steel?

[@jamesbanks8963]

probably

[@Louie88]

I like to through it in the oven for an hour on self clean. Then blow it off, clean , prep it and powder.

[@noahsmith7900]

anyone know how to remove powder off wheels idk if this would be safe on wheels

[@AlexLTDLX]

Steel wheels, definitely. Aluminum wheels, maybe not unless you're really safe about it (the annealing temp of aluminum isn't much higher than the temperatures to burn off powder coat). If you choose to do this to aluminum wheels, I take no responsibility... that's my legal disclaimer. And to be honest, I don't know if I would do it to aluminum wheels myself.

[@ronmonahan1696]

awesome tip, didn't even dawn on me.

[@AlexLTDLX]

I wrestled with powder coat for years until I figured this one out. It dawned on me once I got my own powdercoating stuff some years back.

[@Megatholis]

I wish I had seen this video before I removed all the powder coating on a jeep bumper by hand, took me 2 days of constantly sanding sun up to sun down and I would never do it that way again

[@AlexLTDLX]

Sorry you didn't see it earlier. I actually practice what I preach - I just burnt off some powder coating off some square steel tube so it could be fabbed into something else. Once you do this once, you'll never use chemical/mechanical methods again. At least you now know for next time. Thanks for watching!

[@robertprice9052]

stumbled onto this video. I was planning of stripping my Yeti mug tomorrow. I think ill throw it in the oven at max and see what happens! thanks

[@AlexLTDLX]

Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. But let me warn you - there are several reasons why I wouldn't do that. First of all, your oven probably won't get hot enough to burn powdercoating off, but it might get hot enough to out gas some toxic fumes into your oven (it may not be powdercoat you're dealing with - paint isn't much safer). Secondly, stainless steel (I'm assuming that's what your mug is made from) warps a lot - particularly when it's in thin sheet form. I once ruined a nice piece of stainless using it as a heat shield when soldering with a propane torch. Since Yeti stuff tends to work like a thermos - two thin pieces of steel separated by a vacuum - even minor heat warping could lead to rupturing the seal and ruining the insulating properties of the mug. And thirdly, if it's got something else inside that I'm unaware of, it could explode or rupture from pressure. Personally, yours is a situation I wouldn't recommend this method for. Good luck and thanks again!

[@robertprice9052]

AlexLTDLX thanks for the response. You’re prob right. I have a chemical stripper that works pretty well. I coat it and then wrap it in cling wrap for an hour or so. Thanks!

[@evil_me]

In my shop I usually bake the powder coat off im an old oven we use for recoating and cleaning

[@AlexLTDLX]

What temperature does it usually take to burn off? I've never measured it...

[@evil_me]

@@AlexLTDLX we just set it to self cleaning, so it's at least 450f

[@AlexLTDLX]

@@swayzee1989 I'd be on the fence about aluminum wheels. They should be ok, but you are approaching the annealing temperature of aluminum. I'd say do it at your own risk. I probably wouldn't.

[@IzziedeD]

self cleaning cycle often runs upward of 900°F

[@msburrage74]

Can you not sand blast it off? That’s what I was gonna try.

[@AlexLTDLX]

You can, but it takes forever.

[@blu3cha0s]

I use a weed burning torch. It works very fast

[@AlexLTDLX]

That's a good idea - I have one too. Might use it in the future.

[@chrishawkins582]

Isn't there a danger of deformation of the part!

[@AlexLTDLX]

It doesn't get anywhere near hot enough to affect steel.

[@sebastianseek._.1896]

Can you do this on titanium

[@AlexLTDLX]

Don't see why not.

[@darrrenbetker4266]

Wouldnt risk that on alluminum.

[@darrrenbetker4266]

@@41PH4B3TS0UP DUH!!!!

[@darrrenbetker4266]

@@41PH4B3TS0UP well duh of coarse he did!!!

[@deeganmoore3514]

i have a whole go kart to do this to i don’t think this will work

[@AlexLTDLX]

It would work, but would probably take a couple of bottles of propane. Just do a bit at a time. The other practical option is to take it to a sandblasting company. But sandblasting and chemical removal will cost far more (and be harder) than doing this.

[@Kingtrollface259]

Aluminum parts tend to be coated by anodising, you can remove this coating with water and hydrogen peroxide (drain cleaner) do not touch this stuff tho it will burn being a chemical

[@bobcheek3371]

Best is to use blasting it quick if you use the right media …. It’s not sand it’s not sand!!! We did oxygen tanks aluminum!!! Test it …. Plastic media !!!! Stronger than powder coating will not wreck The metal ….. ground up buttons!!!!!

[@gilferddelhuelar2670]

Is it safe for bicycle?

[@AlexLTDLX]

Should be.

[@12jmlnv7]

Is that you Nicolas Cage?

[@AlexLTDLX]

Lol. I now get that a lot. When I was younger I was often mistook (visually) for Emilio Estevez. I still don't see that one. I've also been compared to one of the Walking Dead characters. Whatever - I just glad you all are watching and getting something from these vids! Thanks!

[@hardcore4476]

🤣 Sounds like him..

[@riffraffchoppers]

Tried this on a motorcycle Frame and most definitely did not work

[@AlexLTDLX]

Then you didn't get it hot enough. Powder coat isn't fire proof. It cures around 400* F and turns to ash around 700* F. A motorcycle frame is pretty massive, relatively speaking. You'd need to either find a way to retain heat, like with a welding blanket, or just do one small part at a time - it would take a long time with a regular propane torch. Maybe just build a campfire and throw the frame on top of it. Or try a weed burning torch and a 20lb propane tank.

[@riffraffchoppers]

@@AlexLTDLX I held the propane torch to a 6 inch area for about 10 minutes it was definitely plenty hot. It bubbled it sizzled it looked like ash but when it was cooled down I tried a wire brush and at best it was gummy and was barley peeling away. I tried to brush it when it was still hot and same thing just gummed up. I also tried the gasket sealer on a pulley cover which everyone on here said worked and that didn’t do shit either. So either I have some super powder coat or everyone else is peeling away a really shitty thin coat or something. My frame was done like 13 years ago too

[@AlexLTDLX]

You have to go well past the bubbling stage. It's most likely just a mass issue; retaining the heat is probably another issue. If you could figure out a good way to keep 1 small section exposed and use a welding blanket to help create a "hot zone," that would probably help too. I'm only half joking about the campfire thing. But of course, you don't want to anneal it, either. Try something smaller that's already powder coated and you'll get a feel for what it needs to look like and how much heat it takes. This is how most coating shops remove powder coat. Good luck!

[@riffraffchoppers]

@@AlexLTDLX ya man I took a good 10 minutes on a 6 inch spot and still didn’t come off. To do that whole frame would take me days so I said fuck it and for 150 had it sand blasted. Most shops do that or they have them chemical dipped. None I called burn em off