What is the best way to sand the living ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- out of something?

[nitz]

Long story short, I've got a cab with a lot of nasty adhesive on it, plus an ugly paint job underneath that. I've been seriously considering a scratch build for awhile, since cleaning this seems like it'd be a real pain, but...I keep looking at that thing sitting there and wondering if I should give it a shot.

So could I just sand the whole works off, or would I need something to dissolve the glue? What would be the best tool to use to sand the ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- out of this thing? (I'm still a bit clueless when it comes to power tools).

I'm feeling like if I could just get the right tool to sand 'er down nice and then paint it, I might go for it. But if it's going to be a big messy pain with nasty glue solvents and such, I may just scrap it and attempt a scratch build since I've sort of been leaning that way anyway.

Advice?

[Blanka]

Did you try a heat gun with a putty knife?
Sanding with lots of paint/glue is horrible, the paper is messed up every 30 seconds.
Chemical cleaning is no picnic either.
If that does not work, go scratch.

[Ond]

You could also try either paint thinner or Acetone on a rag to dissolve the glue residue, if it's contact adhesive then try turpentine.

[TopJimmyCooks]

MEK, naptha/lighter fluid, freeze spray (computer duster).  exhaust chemicals before going mechanical.  Lift off latex paint remover in the paint section.

If it comes to sanding, borrow someone's belt sander, as big and heavy as you can find.  get aluminum oxide or open coat sanding belts.  like 80 grit.  Play around and see if you can get the adhesive to roll into loose balls and fly off.  keep it moving and flat to avoid gouges. 

[nitz]

Thanks Guys, I appreciate the input.

I had a feeling just trying to sand everything off wouldn't work. So I'm hearing "Sanding with lots of paint/glue is horrible" and the names of a bunch of chemicals that may or may not work.

Meh, it's a clunker of a cab, so this just sounds like too much mess/hassle to go through for it.

Scratch build it is!

[Ed_McCarron]

Don't give up on the heat gun/putty knife route until you give it a shot -- you'd be surprised how easy heat makes things sometimes.

Then again, it may end up in flames on your shop floor, but, hey, fun either way, right?