Stripping paint/rust from body
 

What is the current best method for stripping paint and rust from a body, without warping anything, or removing any factory markings that could be useful later?

Going to attempt a complete body off restoration of an early Chevelle that has original, mostly weathered away paint, and several rusty areas that will need at least some patch panels, or more, not exactly sure yet.

Plastic media? Walnut shells? Chemical dipping?

I’ve read several previous posts here, but not sure what is the best for this situation.

Thanks.

Whatever method you use, mask off those markings and you can hand apply whatever method you use on the rest of the car.

They used a plastic media on my Camaro. You could see all the crayon marks on the firewall. I didn't redo them, I documented them with pictures as it was getting painted over again. You may have to sand blast in the areas where it's rusted. Start with the media unless somebody has another way. They have special tape to put over the Fisher body tag. Don't remove it...Joe

It would be nice to know what part of the country you're in to know what to suggest for a local source.
There are places that do total immersion in non-toxic solutions that remove everything but clean steel and that is all you're left with. The one I use is near Milwaukee, WI and he does pieces to whole body and can have the entire body dipped in EDP after too. The EDP his partner uses is better than what is on the NOS parts I've bought. My, lifetime, bodyman/painter that is helping me was so impressed, he is now taking all this restoration parts there too.

Any total dip in solution is, most likely, going to remove any chalk marks and even stripping by hand will need great care to avoid the marks.

I am in north Alabama. I am not sure of the choices that are reasonably close to here, so will have to do some research. I worry about the chemical process dissolving the trim tag or rivets, so not sure on that process.

Maybe plastic media will be the best, and some sand blasting in the rusty areas as Joe says?

Does anyone think there are issues with chemically stripping the hood and top? There are adhesives in these two parts that join the out metal to the inner support structures that are then dissolved by the chemicals. It seems to me there would be challenges to replace the adhesive without distorting the outer metal skin.

Do not leave tags on a car that is being chemically stripped. Even paint stripper can damage aluminum.