Paint removal

[jfitz]

I need to remove paint from a recently purchased Lionel #2530 REA baggage car. This car's shell is all aluminum and grooved from end to end. What is the best way to do this without damaging the soft aluminum surface. Sand blasting seems extreme and most strippers are very caustic and may damage the metal.  What do you think?

[Anonymous]

Soak it in Super Clean.  You can get a gallon jug in the automotive section of Walmart.  It won't harm the aluminum, but it might take a few days for the paint to come off.  I used this method to strip the paint from the castings from a Flyer 326 hudson, and it worked great.  Sand blasting aluminum is a very bad idea as it will pit the surface.

[Sturgeon-Phish]

I agree with Jim it works great.  I take a liter pop bottle cut the top off and put the piece in and reduce the amount of solution generated.  I've also re-used the solution again after running it through a coffee filter.

RInse to piece in hot water and then prep the surface with alcohol or minerial spirits, what ever the primer reccomends.

When you are done post pictures!

Jim

[RockIsland52]

Wooden toothpicks to clean out the grooves and you are all set.

Jack.

[jfitz]

Thanks RI52,will do.

[jfitz]

Thanks Sturg. What would I use to seal the Aluminum shell when all nice and clean?

[jfitz]

Thanks green , any ideas on sealing that nice, clean aluminum before I put it all back together?

jfitz

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't worry about sealing it.  If you'd like to polish it, Mothers Mag & Aluminum Polish does a great job on these cars.

[arkady]

For polishing, Simi-Chrome is the best metal polish I've ever found. I use it on everything from rifle bolts to jewelry, and it does an outstanding job.

[Sturgeon-Phish]

Are you going to repaint it?

[jfitz]

No,  I'm trying to restore it to match other Lionel pass. cars in my # 2500 series.  jfitz