Thread: Caravan project

Hope the old Trojan mechanical brakes are in good nick Coz they are non existent now in that vintage. If you get really stuck on the reco of the running gear, flick me a PM and I'll see if I can help with anything needed.

Originally Posted by Nibblet

Just make sure whatever you use is compatible with aluminium. @Beetroot or @shift14 might be able to recommend a good product, the stuff they use at the jet base is amazing

FFS, dont use tergo-strip. amazing on paint removal but eats alloy

Slowly getting there!

Howz this mate???

Originally Posted by Tertle

Would consider it but then there is the run off on my driveway? I’m guessing it would stain?

I used to use this industrial stuff on my cars, its a gel, just paint it on with a brush cover it in gladwrap leave it for a bit pull the gladwrap off, paint sticks to wrap and roll it up throw it in the bin paint is gone, no mess no fuss, just don't get it on your skin because it burns

Originally Posted by Nibblet

Would spray on paint stripper not be the easiest way?

And they blame the farmers for our shit water quality

Originally Posted by Gibo

And they blame the farmers for our shit water quality

Mainly just the stupid ones.

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Slowly getting there

[QUOTE=A330driver;652982]Howz this mate???


that look stunning! whats the inside like?

We did it out,will get the bro to send me some other photos....halves......have a mate who’s an upholsterer.....very basic but everything can be turned into eating or sleeping quarters....

Originally Posted by A330driver

We did it out,will get the bro to send me some other photos....halves......have a mate who’s an upholsterer.....very basic but everything can be turned into eating or sleeping quarters....

at the moment I'm just going to concentrate of painting it and making it weather tight.....will need to get front window sorted and the rubber trim around the other opening windows, then i will look at the wheels, breaks and drawbar.......then the inside,, but I'm after a very basic inside that can be turned from a eating sitting to sleeping so very keen to see your set up. Ive got 3 x 100 amp hour deep cycle batteries that will go in soon which will have solar set up but other than that its a semi clean slate!

Originally Posted by Tommy

That will scuff up the ali good and proper. They do this expanded black plastic stuff for use in rotary tools, chews through paint and doesn't harm the alloy.

Have you got access to a compressor? Go the lazy route and blast it

If you are thinking the 3M / scotch pads I found them more aggressive than the wire wheel. And you are right, the wire wheel is probably too aggressive too....

I would try what Tommy said,some sort of angle grinder attachment will be the easiest to use with the least mess and has the bonus of removing any corrosion and keying up the surface for priming.
I'm not super familiar with paint strippers, but the ones I've used just loosened up the paint so still needed to be scrapped or scrubbed off. Having the rough surface may make this less than ideal.

Originally Posted by Nibblet

Just make sure whatever you use is compatible with aluminium. @Beetroot or @shift14 might be able to recommend a good product, the stuff they use at the jet base is amazing

Spec strip is what we called it, not sure what the full name is.
Was horrible stuff to use, the fumes put off were horrific and the tiny bit on your skin would burn like crazy. Worked well as a paint stripper though.

Originally Posted by Beetroot

I would try what Tommy said,some sort of angle grinder attachment will be the easiest to use with the least mess and has the bonus of removing any corrosion and keying up the surface for priming.
I'm not super familiar with paint strippers, but the ones I've used just loosened up the paint so still needed to be scrapped or scrubbed off. Having the rough surface may make this less than ideal.





Spec strip is what we called it, not sure what the full name is.
Was horrible stuff to use, the fumes put off were horrific and the tiny bit on your skin would burn like crazy. Worked well as a paint stripper though.

I'm taking a day off.....read really freaken sunburnt, going to potter inside the caravan today!!!!!

Ive been using a Norton product, a Blaze rapid strip, and as long as you don't sit it there on one spot it works a treat! I've just gone through my second one, the trick is not to sit there in one place as i have used it once before of one of my trucks i repainted and i soon learnt to watch for the metal overheating.

where i can't get into an area thats just too fiddly I've a set of wire wheels with various heads that I've used, I've even just taken to areas with a wire brush. The problem has been the odd textured aluminium sheets, they i have water blasted the buggery out of them, wire brushed the hollows and lightly buzzed the tops, its moved the bulk but there are a few odd spots of paint.

I've then gone over it again with an orbital sander, except the rivets, I've been real careful around them, i tried a spot sand blaster from super cheap..........that was possibly money better spent on lotto!

Now Im getting to the exterior paint selection and options. Ive keyed the alu so now I'm looking to etch, prime and then undercoat, working out if its cheaper to do myself or pay? I've got no issue in learning how to do this myself, but what things would cost me to do this as apposed to someone set up to do it is something I'm taking into consideration? mind you if i buy stuff its mine for future random projects??

Originally Posted by Tertle

mind you if i buy stuff its mine for future random projects??

This reads, more stuff collecting dust in the garage