Metal Control Panel Stripping

[Opie]

I have a metal control panel. It has a lot of scratches and I want to paint it a different color. It still has the original art on it. I know I can the art off with a heat gun from reading the forums. I was wondering if anyone had any solid advice on how to strip it down so I can repaint it. Some options I've read are paying someone to sandblast it, citristrip or just using a sander. Any information will be grateful. Thanks guys

[eds1275]

You can buy paint and finish strippers in the paint section of any store. One time I took the finish off of a piano with a chemical, it was actually fast and awesome.

[Well Fed Games]

Yeah, chemicals work well, I've had luck with Citristrip for sure. My current method pretty much consists of heat (from a grill or heat gun), metal scraper for the vinyl/thick adhesive, and a random-orbit sander with 80-grit discs to get it to bare metal.

[dkersten]

The advantage of using a power sander is if there are any scratches that scored the metal, sanding it can smooth those out where stripping it is still going to leave them there.  Just wear protection whatever you do - if you sand, the paint might have lead in it and when you turn it into dust that can be really bad.  If you strip, usually the chemicals are not good for your skin, and can have toxic fumes (and again if there is lead in the paint it can harm you). 

[DeLuSioNal29]

I remove the sticker with a heat gun.  Then I just use this to remove the sticky leftover crap and the rust.  $5 at Home Depot:  http://www.homedepot.com/p/Avanti-Pro-3-in-Wire-Cup-Brush-PWW030CUPD01G/202831066


DeLuSioNaL29

[Yinzer]

Chemicals and metal scrapper.