restoring?, more like preserving, actually... Options

[rjames]

After reading so many of the restoration threads on here I finally decided to try and save my own underpowered go-kart from completely rusting away.

So far I've removed 90% of the tar from the interior. Things look better then I thought they would in some areas, and worse in others.

Excuse the bad quality pics, they're taken with my cell phone.

[snflupigus]

hey... your'e doing what i just did... / am still doing.. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/smile.gif)

Snflupigus.com's 914 issue blog

tips from someone who JUST got them from here... (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/smile.gif)

things to buy... knotted wire wheel, and other wire wheels. 3m paint removal discs, maybe some aircraft stripper paint stripper, assorted scrapers, a drill that can handle extended use.

Tar - heat large patches, be patient, it CAN come up in larger vs smaller chunks. Heat gun and heavy duty gasket scraper (not kind with a razor blade) and some other drywall type scrapers.

After tar - they say brake cleaner works... but search my name and rust and you will find some other suggestions. I used brake cleaner and got fumed high... not cool but it DOES take the tar residue left over from scraping off fast. Lots of blue shop paper towels and 2 cans of brake cleaner.

i've used a cheap sears angle grinder with a knotted wire cup wheel for the seam sealer fast but makes a damn mess. Lots of heat might go faster but danger to metal more likely. I for other various non floor paint removal I used the grinder and a drill with a coarse wire wheel cup for most but also use some little wire wheels. 3m buff pads on a drill and the twist lock pads.

Takes some trial and error but you can get it done. I think most people use the twist lock discs or similar and a right angle air grinder to speedily get down to metal.

I just got a flapper wheel disc for the angle grinder, 80 gritt - should get the rest of my work done. I'll send you more pics of my progress. Let me know if you find anything that makes life easier that i didnt mention.