Strip dash panel?

Skybolt

Well-Known Member
Nov 11, 2014
6,267
Kent Narrows, MD
Boat Info
Reel Nauti
460 EC
Engines
Detroit 6v92TA
(Low profile's)
Alison Gears
Westerbeke
12.5kw Genset
I need to repaint or something, my main dash area is all cracked from the heat. The previous owner repainted the dash in something like awl grip and did not remove the previous paint that was like spay paint or something. So that just peeled up over time from underneath and cracked the surface paint.

So now it's time to strip everything off and start over. I have tried aircraft stripper and it just laughed at that. So I guess I must sand it completely off. The problem is getting close to the windshield. Has anyone used something like these: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01B8GQ0BW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I am afraid to go to rough and go through to the glass, would like to only remove to the gel. Any Ideas on this?
 
A machine is only going to get you so far with the windshield involved. Any paint will be removed by 80 or 100 grit on a dual action sander or hand sanded.

Those wheels will work, attached to a drill or grinder, but they are aggressive.

I use any orbital hook and loop sander with 80-100 to strip undercoating. Then step up to 220, then 320, then paint with Awlgrip or Awlcraft.

Just use what u need to remove the old finish, then step ur grits to remove prior scratches, and apply your desired finish.

Read the tech sheet on the finish you choose and all will be well.

Im about to prep and paint or gel my 92 330 dash, with awlcraft, leaving the windshield on. If I get to it, soon, I will document it all here.
 
I have actually done this many times, meaning strip and gel/paint boats/cars etc. I just haven't done this in many years and was hoping there is a better way to strip this.

I have put this off because I really do not want to do it. I tried getting "professionals" to give me a quote and one said he just wouldn't do it because of how much work it and couldn't charge for it. The other guy just said it couldn't be done because it wouldn't come out right and he couldn't guarantee the work. If I could remove the windshield I wouldn't even give this a second thought. But that's going to happen.

I am hoping that those wheel's on a 4" grinder will do a good enough job to finish off with a DA. My only concern is that is too aggressive. Then I was going to roll out Awlgrip.
 
Those types of wheels will definitely eat up the paint pretty quickly - no problem there. Like you said, though, you want to be careful of the wheel (and the tool head) near the glass. Wrapping some foam in key spots on the grinder might not be a bad idea. Or even holding a piece of plywood against the glass... or even just tape some luan to the entire glass and frame.

Windshields, though, actually aren't all that hard to remove - you might be surprised. Removing the black strip at the base of the windshield (on the outside) reveals the screws.

When you used the stripper, did you try covering the stripper in plastic? That can help it work better. Scratching the surface well may help, too. Although I haven't tried to remove AwlGrip with chemicals before, I have heard (as you found out) that it can be a real bear. You might want to contact AwlGrip to see if there's a "recommended" type of stripper.
 
... Windshields, though, actually aren't all that hard to remove - you might be surprised. Removing the black strip at the base of the windshield (on the outside) reveals the screws.

The issue is it is through bolted and head liner was replaced recently and not made to be removed. So taking the windshield off would involve removing the head liner and I simply don't want to get involved with that. Covering the windshield is a great idea and will probably use a piece of luan as you mention, great idea thank you.

When you used the stripper, did you try covering the stripper in plastic? That can help it work better. Scratching the surface well may help, too. Although I haven't tried to remove AwlGrip with chemicals before, I have heard (as you found out) that it can be a real bear. You might want to contact AwlGrip to see if there's a "recommended" type of stripper.

I did try and scuff it with 60 grit on a DA in a small area. I've never heard of covering it before, I might try that to see if it will help. But the only thing that happened with it was the paint turned orange and did not soften at all. I was told by others that chemicals will not remove Awlgrip, so contacting them might be a good idea.

I had previously had someone look at this and he said just cover it with SeaDek. I laughed at that, but after trying to strip this, it doesn't sound so funny any more.
 
Headliner... understood. The windshields I've removed and/or helped with were always screwed on... but I think I recall that maybe one of them had a bolt at either end, now that you mention it. But that may also be a difference between larger SR's and the small and medium ones I typically work on.

Seadeck... yeah, all of sudden it's like "hmmmmm......." :)
 
Headliner... understood. The windshields I've removed and/or helped with were always screwed on... but I think I recall that maybe one of them had a bolt at either end, now that you mention it. But that may also be a difference between larger SR's and the small and medium ones I typically work on.

Seadeck... yeah, all of sudden it's like "hmmmmm......." :)

Yeah, when I looked at fixing a leak in the forward most part of the windshield I found that they were bolted in, either by the factory or the PO had done so.

For me even if I used Seadek I would have to remove the chipping paint and that would lead into the whole thing I believe. I cannot simply "cover it up", that's just not part of my DNA, even though I would love to do so with canvas or vinyl.
 
For me even if I used Seadek I would have to remove the chipping paint and that would lead into the whole thing I believe. I cannot simply "cover it up", that's just not part of my DNA, even though I would love to do so with canvas or vinyl.
I agree - I was just commenting on the "thought" of how easy it would be to just band-aid it. But like you said, you can't stick something to something that is already peeling. Besides, it would be harder to clean.
 
I agree - I was just commenting on the "thought" of how easy it would be to just band-aid it. But like you said, you can't stick something to something that is already peeling. Besides, it would be harder to clean.

Yeah, I can't imagine having SeaDek on the dash. That gets too dirty from bugs and the like. It would be a nightmare to clean I would imagine.

To bad I am not closer to you, I would have your new place do it :). I will do just about anything on a boat, but this is just something I would like to leave and come back and see how nice it looks.
 

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