Sander / Paint removal gut check...

Ron20324 · May 23, 2016

I rented the FEIN sander and shop vac from the marina. I was launched on the 11th. Now the 23rd, my upper right arm muscle is still unusable from the weght of the industrial-weight tool.

Justin_NSA · May 23, 2016

On a 19 footer, I would think any random orbital with a vac adapter would work. I wet sanded my Mac26S by hand so I'm no help. Do you keep it in a slip or on a trailer? You may not even need bottom paint. That would be the fastest surface.

lillia28 · May 23, 2016

Look into paint stripper. Most yards around here won't let you sand bottom paint, too much biocide flying around. While you may not be in a yard, you should ask yourself how much bottom paint you want the kids and dog to breath in.
L

Ward H · May 23, 2016

lillia28 said:
Look into paint stripper. Most yards around here won't let you sand bottom paint, too much biocide flying around. While you may not be in a yard, you should ask yourself how much bottom paint you want the kids and dog to breath in.
L

Good point. I wouldn't want my neighbor to sand his bottom painted boat and have the dust blow into my yard. Does your shop vac capture all the dust? Can you scrape it instead with a drop cloth to catch the chips?
I agree with Justin, dropping big bucks on a RA sander probably won't speed up the process much. Any RA should do.

Ron20324 · May 23, 2016

The Fein sander with vac caught about all of the dust when flat against the hull. When using the edge of the disc, the dust was not sucked up so well. Preiously I used my palm sander on my B32 3- with vac. If it was not for needing to go deep into the keel, I would have used the palm on the entire bottom, as I only needed to rough it up for the next CSC coat.

Ward H · May 23, 2016

Brett, looks like your on top of it. Looking at your photo I still think you might give scrapping a try. It looks like a lot of paint has already flaked off so it may come off easier than expected. Go gently and you can avoid gouging. Maybe be easier than sanding through bottom paint with a heavy grit and hitting gel coat and going through that before you know it.
I used one with changeable blades so no re sharpening. When the yard media blasted my bottom paint because it was flaking off, they left the last 2" near the water line because they did not want to hit the good gel coat. I was able to scrap off that 2" easily without any gouging.

Anyway, your on top of the issues and I can't answer you original question. Sorry

agprice22 · May 23, 2016

Goof off stripper works well. I have used it on paint and adhesive. Do not stroke it. Just lay it on thick in short, 4 inch dabs. I preferred a dull, flexible spackling knife to a sharp blade when using stripper.
I have also used a Bosch Random Orbital with 40 grit and a vacuum. I did my 272 with it. It was taxing, but I recovered. It removes anything. There is no perfect solution for everyone. Best is what works for you!

jepomer · May 23, 2016

I used a DeWalt orbital sander using 60 to 80 grit disks.

Sunbird22358 · May 24, 2016

If you will be trailer-sailing, you do not need bottom paint. But, to make the boat look good, I agree getting that old paint off is a good idea (plus, old bottom paints, no matter what type, shed dust and chips that you don't want the kids or pets getting exposed to). I would suggest getting a good, but not expensive random-orbit sander with a hook-up to a good shop-vac, look into making or buying one of those dust-collectors that fit between sander and vac (This traps the dust in the water and reduces the clogging of the shop-vac filter/bag). I was able to find the instructions that I had to make that dust-trap and they are posted below.
The reason why I suggest getting a less than top line sander is that all that bottom paint dust will get sucked through the motor of the sander and it may ultimately ruin it.
After sanding off the bottom paint, coating the bottom with a non-antifoulant coating seems best, like Interlux VC, these are Teflon-based coatings and will make keeping the bottom clean easier, plus may make the boat slide on/off the trailer easier. The big plus is that I don't think those coatings oxidize and rub off like antifoulant paints do. Or a good oil-based enamel (even Rust-oleum!) in your favorite color will work. I wouldn't use any of the polyurethane topside paints, as they tend to blister from getting soaked and may rub off/scuff when they slide against the trailer bunks/rollers.

HOW TO: RIG UP A BUCKET TO USE AS A DUST TRAP FOR A SHOP-VAC WHILE SANDING.

I rigged up an industrial-strength version of a drywall sander's water trap, and it worked great for me.

1) Get a large plastic bucket with lid at BOB (Big Orange Box AKA Home Depot) and punch two holes in the lid.

2) Using some of those extra shop vac rigid tubes you have lying around from previous vacs, insert them through the holes so that one reaches within a few inches of the bottom, and the other only a few inches from the top.

3) Fill the bucket half full with water, connect the sander hose to the "deep" tube, and the vac to the "shallow" tube, and fire everything up.

All the fine dust will be caught in the water, making cleanup and disposal a snap. And you'll have negligible contents in your vac, so there's almost no chance of damage. The whole rig cost me a few bucks (after I paid for the hose for the sander). I like the arrangement so much that I now use it in my shop when I'm sanding paint or other coatings.

Alfred Poor

'69 Cal 29 #132 "Pentaquod"

CloudDiver · May 24, 2016

Safety first... Any good shop vac will work as the source of suction, but this saves you from cleaning the filer every 10 friggin minutes (fine paint dust clogs paper filters FAST);
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002JP315K...qid=1464115946&sr=8-1-ac&keywords=dust+deputy

Hook this cyclone in-line between the shop vac and sander, keeps 99% of dust out of the air and keeps filters working longer between cleanings.

For sanders, no way you need to spend $400 on a Festool sander. I use a Dewalt 5 inch orbital that has a dust port for 90% of my sanding jobs. For the other 10% which are bigger jobs I have a 6 inch Rigid variable speed w/dust port;
http://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-6...der-with-AIRGUARD-Technology-R26111/100523155

I have a belt sander too, but for your 19 ft boat a 6 inch HD orbital will handle your needs. Belt-sanders are dangerous on small, thin hulled craft!

When using either of my sanders the dust is sucked up very well, even off the edges. Pro tip, get a smaller diameter hose to go from the tool and connect to regular shop vac hose which enters the cyclone. Not only does this help maintain suction over a larger distance, it is more flexible and gives you a nice extension for freedom of movement;

http://www.amazon.com/Makita-192108...&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00

Another tip, pick up a package of various size hose adapters. I don't have any links for those but you'll find them on Amazon. I also have a Rockler woodworking store locally that carries a variety of adapters on the shelf.

Using this set up with extension and hoses and the cyclone, I sanded bottom paint, gel coat, and paint/epoxy in general inside my shop with very little dust settling on surfaces around the shop. In my resto thread on pg 10 are pictures showing the collection of gelcoat dust... I took off my bottom gelcoat up to the water-line to a complete blister repair and fresh layer of 8.9 oz cloth to finish it;
http://forums.sailboatowners.com/in...-of-1981-c-22-swing-keel-10580.166613/page-10

agprice22 · Jun 12, 2016

You can coat the bottom with Interlux Interprotect 2000. It will cover all your sins.

agprice22 · Jun 13, 2016

Yes! Look on Youtube for a video on Interlux Interprotect. It is not hard to use, but the video is informative and will make the job easier. You will be happy with the results. I know I was.

CloudDiver · Jun 13, 2016

You are doing fine... don't worry about 'hitting fiberglass'. Take agprice22's advice and paint the bottom with Interprotect 2000. Get a gallon of it and use the whole gallon on the hull, keel, and rudder. Use a 1/4" nap roller, foam rollers are ok but the paint on too think and it takes too many coats. 3/8 nap is too thick. Its what we call a 'barrier coat' and also the primer for your new bottom paint. You'll need to get the boat off the trailer and onto some type of stands to finish sanding and paint.

Sander / Paint removal gut check...

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