Anyone use Citristrip or a similar gel to clean up axle housings?

[yotadude520]

I'm not normally the type of guy that likes to repaint everything and make it all nice and shiny just to get covered in layers of dirt or dust, so I've never really re-painted parts before I put them on. I think I did an oil pan once on my old pickup but that was about it.

Looking at these axles I can't help but think they could look better, and considering I expect them to be under the truck come Saturday evening and still need to rebuild the knuckles & what not I don't have a ton of time to get them painted.

I was thinking of using something like Citristrip (or another paint removing gel) and then just brushing on POR-15. Anybody ever used Citristrip or something like that? Any recommendations?

 

[OSS]

Not sure about Citristrip but POR (paint over rust) is extremely toxic s***. It uses isocyanate solvent. Really really bad stuff.
A typical carbon cartridge half mask respirator offers zero protection from isocyanates. And once you’ve been over exposed to isocyanates — you’re screwed for life. Hello extreme chemical sensitivity forever.
You’ve been warned

 

[Hokie LX]

I would recommend wire wheeling the entire thing to remove loose rust then use ospho to seal and neutralize it and provide a paintable surface. I POR'd my frame as part of my long winded frame project but then ended up spray painting (Krylon appliance epoxy) the axles housings as part of my axle rebuild and refresh as my truck gets wheeled a fair amount and it's easier to touch up.

 

[Spike Strip]

Not sure about Citristrip but POR (paint over rust) is extremely toxic s***. It uses isocyanate solvent. Really really bad stuff.
A typical carbon cartridge half mask respirator offers zero protection from isocyanates. And once you’ve been over exposed to isocyanates — you’re screwed for life. Hello extreme chemical sensitivity forever.
You’ve been warned

@yotadude520

I will second and triple the warning on this stuff - If you do use ANY kind of paint stripper, you absolutely must use a quality fume-rated respirator, if you value your health. Even with all that, I would do it outdoors with a fan behind you, pointed to blow the fumes away.

When I paint large items like that, particularly under-carriage stuff, I just pressure wash the snot of it and remove all grease and oil, then go over by hand with a heavy duty scotch brite or equivalent, then paint. Probably better ways to prep the surface, but I just want to protect against future rust, not so much about appearance.

 

[yotadude520]

Way to go @Spike Strip & @OSS you've officially talked me out of painting them.

They're going in as is, rust in AZ isn't a problem anyways.

 

[OSS]

Way to go @Spike Strip & @OSS you've officially talked me out of painting them.

They're going in as is, rust in AZ isn't a problem anyways.

Use this stuff:
The last coat can be mixed with some rustoleum black paint to give it a solid black appearance.
Brush it on.

Vehicle Rust Proofing

Vehicle rust proofing preserves vehicles for generations. Harmless for the environment.

www.solventfreepaint.com