If you need a project stripped down to the bare metal, chemical stripping is a great option. Chemical stripping isn’t as harsh as sandblasting, something critically important on thin material and soft metals such as aluminum. Chemical stripping also takes less “elbow grease” compared to sanding or using a wire wheel in a hand drill or die grinder. Finally, chemical stripping is able to get into all the tiny nooks and crannies that mechanical methods can miss.
I needed the paint stripped off of my Kawasaki KX 125’s frame. I am planning to finish welding several factory seams that were only partially welded in the first place. I’m also planning to add a gusset or two. Since the factory paint seemed to permeate the whole frame (that’s a good thing, actually) I needed to get the paint completely out of the frame, or welding wasn’t going to be successful because remaining paint could be pulled into the welds and cause porosity. Chemical paint stripping was the answer.
An internet search revealed options. Even in the Los Angeles area, I noticed I had “some” options instead of “many.” With the strict environmental regulations we live under, it seems there aren’t a ton of companies in the chemical paint stripping business these days. Side note: it’s best to search under “paint stripping,” because you can imagine what searching under “stripping” might bring up.
Based on the company’s website, I went to L&M Stripping in Van Nuys. L&M has a tank big enough to fit a car body inside. This is a great future reference if I need a cab, body tub, or a frame stripped at some point. The Quonset hut suggests that L&M has been in business for a long time. That’s another good thing.
For more information, contact:
L&M Stripping
(818) 983-1200
www.lmstripping.com