The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Aircraft stripper

Yesterday I went to several auto parts stores looking for a gallon of Aircraft stripper (paint remover). Finally, a friendly counter man at my usual store, told me that the government has outlawed it, and they won't be getting anymore. Since nobody had it, I'm assuming this is true. So, I'm curious, are there any other chemical strippers available that work well on auto paint? I have a sandblaster & other tools that will work too, but sometimes stripper is good. Let me know.

I'm pretty sure that Klean Strip is the stripper that I've used in the past. It's the same one that I was told was no longer available yesterday. It always worked well for me in the past. If somebody knows who might still stock it, I'd like to know.

I can't find any stores who don't have it. I just Googled "Aircraft Stripper". Pep Boys, O'Reilly's, Autozone, Advanced Auto, Amazon, Walmart............
Kleen Strip brand and Rustoleum brand...........
May have changed the formula to "Citrus" but it is still available.......

I browsed around Tim's link and see that they have a whole laundry list of discontinued products, including AIRCRAFT® Non-Methylene Chloride Paint Remover, although it appears the Aircraft stripper is still available. However, their "Find a Retailer" link doesn't work.

You might try an automotive paint distributor, not a standard auto parts store.

Google search on Aircraft Paint Remover

It looks like some of these products are what you want?

Part#: GAR343 (gal)
or:
Part#QAR343 (qt)
or:
Part#EAR322

Pep Boys
Advance Auto
Wal-Mart (at least by on-line order)

The stores that you guys mentioned still have the aircraft stripper on many of their websites, but these are mostly the same stores that I visited a couple of days ago, and they did not actually have it on the shelves of their stores. All of the employees that I talked to seemed surprised that they didn't have it. I'll have to admit though that I did not check O'Riley, or Pep Boys, only because I didn't have them nearby. I'll stay after it.

The EPA has forbidden many of the most important ingredients of Aircraft Stripper. Klean Strip was the only manufacturer for many years and in fact made it for 3M and others.

Just as well, because I'm not a fan of introducing chemicals and then ample amounts of water to steel you plan on painting.

Try graffiti remover. Comes in liquid, gel or spray. It even removed the factory tar coating inside my Model A doors.

I have bought it from Advance Auto Parts here in VA through the years without issue. In fact I have can on the shelve, bought 6 months ago.

It's a nasty product, But get's the job done. Wear your proper protection, respirator and use in a well ventilated area.

Bought aircraft stripper from O Reilly’s. Not the same product that it once was because it does not coontain methylehatever anymore. Nonetheless, takes longer to lift paint, and dries faster than its capability to lift paint. The key is: brush it on one-way only, and just one or two brush strokes. Then cover with plastic kitchen wrap to prevent it from evaporating and drying. It required 15 minutes or less wait time in the past. Now it requires 30-46 (maybe 47 minutes) minutes but who’s counting? Wash as directions say, then wash with lacquer thinner or solvent to remove wax binder - if wax remains expect fisheyes in your paint or compromised adhesion.