Before a new coat of paint, primer or sealer goes on, the old finish has to come off. There are three common ways to do it, and each has its place.
Sanding and grinding
Good for small areas and touch-ups. On a whole vehicle, trailer or deck it takes days, struggles in corners and pitted rust, and grinding can thin or overheat metal.
Chemical strippers
Useful on delicate or intricate pieces. They are slow on thick or layered coatings, need careful handling and disposal, and leave residue that has to be neutralized and cleaned before refinishing. They also do nothing for rust.
Wet abrasive blasting
Best for larger jobs and tough coatings. It removes paint, rust and grime in one pass, reaches into pits and corners, and leaves a clean surface profile that new coatings grip. The wet process keeps dust down and metal cool.
A quick way to decide
- A small spot or a single part: sanding may be all you need.
- Fragile detail you want to keep: ask us first; a chemical stripper can be the safer choice.
- A whole vehicle, hull, trailer, piece of equipment or wall: blasting will save you days.
Not sure which applies to your project? Send us a few photos and a description, or call (360) 340-8177, and we'll tell you honestly what makes sense.