I take an extracurricular aircraft class, and I got the okay to take some old painted sheet aluminum for another project I'm working on. The problem is, what I'm using it for I need bare aluminum. I heard around that air crafts are painted with something that regular (store-bought) paint stripper can't remove. Is this true? I am aware of the fact that stripping something like that will result in a toxic paint sludge, so I've taken precautions for that. I just need to know if heavy-duty paint stripper from Home Depot will do the job. Thanks :)
As above, an automotive shop might be able to help you with the correct stripper. If you can find someone who does aircraft finishing, he might help you. A lot of aviation type finishes (Imron, for example) are used in upper end automotive shops for exclusive finishing. You might get some help there. I would be careful about using ordinary strippers on aircraft aluminium. If your project is not going to fly, you would be safe. You might scratch the finish on your sheet though, getting the old paint off. If your project is going to fly, you need to use the correct process. It seems to me that (some time ago), I have heard of a sandblast process, using crushed walnut shells rather than sand, to remove paint from aircraft. Failing all that, you can try a commercial stripper on a small corner of your aluminium sheet to see what it does. Whatever you do, good luck, and have fun. It sounds to me like you could turn this into a research project all by itself.
By the time you get done screwing around with different kinds of strippers, it would probably be cheaper to buy a sheet of aluminum. The USAF uses a baking soda blaster to strip paint during depot level maintenance.
It depends on how old the paint is. If your panel was painted before the 1970's, then pretty much any chemical paint stripper will work. After the 70's, they started using epoxy based primers and paints and those are more resistant to chemical strippers. In any case, wear rubber gloves and breathing protection while using chemical paint strippers. They can burn your skin and create toxic fumes when in use.
Go to an automotive paint store like Sherwin Williams Auto Paints, buy a stripper for the type of paint on the aluminum. Many are epoxy or special acrylics like acry glo or jet glo paints and home paint strippers usually won't phase those paints. A methylene chloride mixed with a soap or wax carrier will work but is a hazmat item and has to be disposed of properly but it won't be corrosive to the aluminum. Dupont, Sherwin Williams, and others make the proper strippers. You might even find some at an RV or Boat supply.
