Using Rotex for automotive paint stripping and paint prep?

[Stimpy]

Hi there,

I've got the engine out of one of my cars currently so a perfect time to refresh the engine bay. Also a great location to learn how to spray as it won't be seen as much as the outside  [big grin].

So I was going to use some paint stripper then a bunch of old air tools I was given years ago, but realised quite quickly that most of the strippers need water rinsing / washing off after and the car is very much stuck in the garage currently - the air tools are also very messy...

Then I thought about my Rotex tools, I have both the 150 and 90 and with the full dust extraction facility using these would surely be less messy - I also get to use some of my favourite green tools!. Assuming this is perfectly possible, can anyone recommend which pads and abrasives would be best? I have a DTS too if that can be of use also.

Worst case I could then use some of the airtools just to get in the awkward corners.

Thanks

 

[Peter_C]

You didn't say what kind of vehicle this is, nor the age of the paint. Does it need to be stripped or just cleaned and painted? Best might be a walnut shell blast or soda blasting. There are a lot of contours under a hood, but we don't know what you are working on. Photos are always worth a thousand words. 

Painting engine compartment

 

[Stimpy]

Hi there Peter, thanks for the reply.

I'd love to media blast it but that is not an option due to location ( Ofcourse everything is always possible but just not practical!).

The car is a 1973 BMW 2002, not pro at pics apologies. So there are definitely nooks and crannies but I thought my tools at least could work the larger areas. The current paint is a combination of original and something else someone has blagged at some point poorly. Some of the area has crazed hence I suspected it may be better to take back to bare metal and start fresh...

I have since read a little more on prep in general and it looks as if I will benefit from using a combination of approaches. I will have a look through which abrasives I have in stock for now...