Stripping an Aluminum comm box

[Greensteel37]

I have a S-89 comm box that I am trying to strip. I have the safe aircraft stripper....do you guy use a sander or what to get this stubborn CARC off without marring the aluminum skin?

 

[armytruck63]

I would use the stripper and avoid the sander. I don't know if there is any anodizing or other coating on the bare aluminum, but sanding would probably ruin it.

I have a friend who restores aircraft and they have a slick blaster that uses crushed dry ice as the media. The chunks of dry ice just evaporate and all you have to clean up are the paint flakes on the ground.

Another reason not to sand CARC is that true CARC is fairly hazardous stuff.

 

[Capehenery]

Might try soda blasting if you have a secure place to deal with the Hazmat dust. Otherwise Stripper is best.

 

[m16ty]

Just be careful with any dust. Breathing CARC dust is bad.

It's a pretty sizable job trying to remove CARC. Is there a reason you can't just paint over it?

 

[Greensteel37]

There is one coat of what looks like CARC on it and it's peeling. I am reluctant to just paint over it and have it look like crap. Since I'm using stripper, the dust factor isn't there (the M116A1 trailer I'm stripping is another story) just the amount of time it takes to get that one coat of paint off with a putty knife.