How To Remove Spray Paint From Door Panels

Remove old paint from the hardware.

How to remove spray paint from door panels.

Slice through paint buildup around hinges and latches. Next i used my toothbrush and bucket of water to wash away as much paint and stripper from grooves as possible. Use a pencil torch to melt the paint very briefly just enough to see it go runny. Start with a spray primer and apply by spraying from a distance of about a foot.

Tape off the panel and surrounding wall to protect the areas around the panel. Keep the spray moving evenly to avoid drips. Get a primer specifically for metal and again formulated to inhibit rust if there is any on the panel. If the door has a vertical center stile paint this next and then blend in the brush marks from the center stile when you paint the horizontal rails.

Remove all the door hardware to get a neater paint job and save time. If oven cleaner doesn t remove the stain try scrubbing paint thinner on the spray paint with a q tip and cotton balls. Next apply a chemical paint stripper. First use a stiff brush and a paint scraper to loosen the paint and vacuum up all debris.

Wipe off with a cotton cloth. It will leave a milky residue which can be easily polished off with extra cut car polish. Begin by applying paint to the inside of the top panels. A high speed sander will allow you to work as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Make sure you have adequate ventilation. You will want to use firm but not harsh strokes when removing the paint. Fill dents and holes with a sandable filler such as mh ready patch. In fact it s all but impossible to sand down to the base metal by hand so having one is a must.

Use an electric orbital sander to remove paint from large areas. Wipe it clean with a water damp towel. After a quick dry with a paper towel i repeated the process. Use a scraper with a 45deg edge made of plexiglass to scrape smaller residual patches.

Dry the area with a towel. These typically take anywhere from 60 minutes to eight hours to. Smooth out the paint working with the grain. If the the wire brush seems like it is too stiff you can also use the toothbrush for this step.

You ll probably have to fill deep dents twice to compensate for shrinkage.