Best Way to Prep Frame Rail for Stiffeners?

[XJRN]

I am going to get HD stiffeners installed but need to prep the rails first. What is the best way you all have found to remove the undercoating. I have heard of burning it then scraping it, but that sounds dangerous. I don't have air tools so no flapper wheel available either.

Thoughts???

 

[kastein]

Brake fluid works decently. Swab it on, let it sit a while, scrape it off, then use NON CHLORINATED (check the chemicals included and make sure none of them have chlorine in them) brake cleaner to hose everything off.

 

[robsjeepxj]

Most people just use the flap wheel on an angle grinder (electric). Just remove where the welds will be then prep the metal with weld through primer.

 

[kastein]

I wouldn't use a flap wheel, last time I tried that I just wrecked a flap wheel. That stuff gums them up really fast.

If you want a no-chemical approach, a knotted/twisted wire wheel in an angle grinder does a real nice job, and takes some of the paint off for you too. WEAR A FULL FACE SHIELD WHILE USING AN ANGLE GRINDER, my insurance company and I spent around 5000 dollars total in hospital bills because I was a retard and didn't.

 

[RCP Phx]

For the undercoating,I took mine off with some Laquer thinner and a rag,came right off.For prepping the steel you just need a good 36-60 grit disk(I use the 3" Roloc disks).

 

[xjcannon]

grinder and wire wheel worked fine for me.

 

[old_man]

I used my pressure washer on a fine stream. It took it down to bare metal in a few minutes and removed all the oil. When done, wipe it down with lacquer thinner and prep with weld through primer, otherwise you will end up with rust under the stiffners.

 

[stewie]

i am about to install my HD stiffies as well. i have already scraped my frame rails with a putty knife and the undercoat came off pretty easy for me. i also plan on using a wire wheel on a 4.5" angle grinder followed by a flap wheel to take off the galvanizing compound. the stiffners have already been prepped with weld through primmer and the frame rails will be too.

hth

 

[KJurasek]

Red Devil makes a jelled paint remover that works beautifully. Scrape it off, wash off the rest with some warm water, then rub down with sandpaper to get a good weldable surface. Eastwood makes some good stuff for removing stuff like that. Also, you will want to take care of substrate (surface between the frame and stiffeners) to keep it from rusting. Eastwood makes a paint that is good for substrate and is weldable.

 

[MoparManiac]

Torch + scraper.

Took me 20 minutes to get both rails done.

Then I flapped only where I was welding.

 

[glumone]

I wouldn't use a flap wheel, last time I tried that I just wrecked a flap wheel. That stuff gums them up really fast.

If you want a no-chemical approach, a knotted/twisted wire wheel in an angle grinder does a real nice job, and takes some of the paint off for you too. WEAR A FULL FACE SHIELD WHILE USING AN ANGLE GRINDER, my insurance company and I spent around 5000 dollars total in hospital bills because I was a retard and didn't.

Ha me to always wear that equipment.

 

[aintright]

i used a braided wire wheel for the undercoating, then a sanding disc for the paint and primer. with a shitty little skil 4 1/2 angle grinder it only took me about 30-45 min to get it ready to weld.

 

[ju82takata]

Knotted wire wheel on angle grider, it knocked all the paint off too. Then wiped down with acetone.