Underseal

[Marku]

Anyone got a quick and easy way of stripping underseal? The 450 has four decades of additions which looks a real mess so decided to start again from bare metal. Currently using a heat gun but it is proving slow and messy.

 

[grober]

Find an organisation/ fleet operator beside you with a ramp and professional hot water/steam cleaner- industrial grade. As used on tractors / heavy plant/ locomotives buses etc.

 

[Marku]

OK thanks for that - a high pressure cleaner will actually strip it?

 

[merc estate]

i will second that should only cost around £40 you get your moneys worth just watching them get so dirty.

 

[reza_q]

Somebody on another forum had suggested petrol is a means of dissolving underside coatings?

Just don't smoke when doing it...

 

[w124nut]

I would have thought that the vapour given off by petrol would be too volatile to do the job safely.

 

[Marku]

PETROL!!!!! I think I would be taking my life in my hands with the quantity needed to soak the surface. Regularly use thinners and white spirit to clean up parts but in tiny quantities. The heat gun works but its hard work and given the amount that has been put on over the years and messy. Haven't tried a steam cleaner yet.

 

[reza_q]

Yeah I did think it was a bit extreme!

But a colleague of mine at work has recently restored a Mk1 Escort Mexico to concours and I'm sure he said petrol!

 

[Marku]

I might give it a go then. I will leave a note as to who suggested it should it all go bang!

 

[Druk]

I used this on a '81 car. It removes the OE Merc rubber stuff into granules and is clean. Maybe not so good on bitumen if that's been used on top.





.

 

[Marku]

Never seen a wire wheel for an angle grinder - have to watch your knuckles. I will see if I can find one - Thanks

 

[mercmush]

I can't offer any advice but I admire you for restoring a w116, they're beautiful cars but I've never owned one. I've only ever had w126s but I still hanker after a w116 one day...

 

[Druk]

Never seen a wire wheel for an angle grinder - have to watch your knuckles. I will see if I can find one - Thanks

Titan Twist Bevel 100mm Brush | Cleaning & Preparation | Screwfix.com

It's self-threaded and replaces all the usual gubbins on an empty grinder spindle. There is more clearance for fingers than appears in the pic. All that is mandatory is a pair of goggles or better still a face shield in case it sheds wires.