Back at it, Undercoating Removal Tests 3


I’m finally spending some time on the MC850 again. My son’s stroke was disabling but could have been worse. I won’t discuss that anymore because that’s not what this blog is about, however, my work will be at a slower pace due to having less available time.

I have been worried about the thick, hard undercoating that I have to remove. I wasn’t happy with the chisel in the air hammer approach so I decided to experiment. A number of Youtube videos talked up the needle scaler as a great tool so I bought one from Harbor Freight. I made a video of my testing and put it on Youtube. If I’ve done this right, you should be able to view it below.

Area Stripped with Needle Scaler and Cleaned with Wire Brush

Area Stripped with Needle Scaler and Cleaned with Wire Brush

Recessed Area Stripped with Needle Scaler

Recessed Area Stripped with Needle Scaler

At first, I was happy with the needle scaler and said so in the video. Today, after further examination, I’m not so happy. The first photo to the right shows the area I cleaned with the needle scaler after cleaning it with a wire brush to examine the metal surface — pretty dinged up. The second photo shows a closeup of the recessed area, and dings are evident there also. Oh well, maybe I’ll use the air hammer approach on flat surfaces, the needle scaler on large contoured or recessed areas, and the stringer bead wheel on small areas.

Any suggestions are welcome. I just put my findings out her and on Youtube so you can draw your own conclusions from the test.


Leave a Reply to Al Smith Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

3 thoughts on “Back at it, Undercoating Removal Tests

  • Al Smith

    I used a Harbor Freight “oscillating tool” to scrape the undercoating off my ’67 Monte. It peeled off in long, gooey strips. I then wiped off the residue with kerosene-soaked paper towels. I finished it off with a wire brush attachment on my grinder, like you.
    I sprayed epoxy primer over the bare metal, followed by Eastwood Chassis Black.
    I plan to spray bedliner over it to act as undercoating.

    • saabyurk Post author

      Thanks for the tip, that tool is so cheap and a Harbor Freight only about 8 miles from here, I might try it.
      I’ve thought about bedliner as undercoating. I’d like to know how that turns out.

      • Al Smith

        Ted, I got the tip about bedliner from a friend who does high-end restorations. He’s had good results, and it can’t be worse than the stuff I scraped off my Saab!
        I hope to spray it before the end of June. i’ll let you know how it goes.
        Welcome back….