Paint stripper?

[fiddle mike]

I'm working on altering a pair of fiberglass saddle bags that, I believe, came off an 82 Gold Wing. I want to remove the paint but not sure what is safe.  I found out the hard way that paint stripper will melt ABS.
Any insights?

The bags are textured and the finish will probably be rattle can semi-flat black.

[wizard -vrccds#125]

any good sander, just no Chem. stripper !

[gordonv]

I was thinking about brake fluid. I have seen what it can do to old car paint, but I've never done it myself. Why wouldn't we be able to use some old brake fluid?

My 82' GW

[Black Dog]

When I found an I/S trunk, to add to my Standard, I used a Dewalt Random Orbit Palm Sander (with foam conture pad), to remove the (green) paint/aplique in prepping to paint it black.

My painter just did a bit more prep work, but it really worked out well 

Black Dog

[rodeo1]

mike

if you are sure the bags are in fact made of fiberglass, any outomotive stripper ( formula a aircraft stripper for enamel, skim all others) available at all automotive paint stores, will strip the paint with no damage to the fiberglass. put it on with a paintbrush, wait till it bubbles and take it off with a bondo spreader. wash with fresh water (water will de activate the stripper) and sand.

30 years in a body shop)

[gordonv]

I am sure that all the parts on the above 82' GW are plastic, most likely ABS also.

[fiddle mike]

I am sure that all the parts on the above 82' GW are plastic, most likely ABS also.

I'm not for sure they came off a GL1100 and they were certainly not OEM. The inside of the saddle bags were contoured, my guess is,  to accommodate the shocks while allowing as much space as possible inside the bags.

[rodeo1]

all bets off if they are abs. but go to your local auto paint shop and ask what the latest good stuff for plastic is.

[gordonv]

That is one reason I posted the pic of my GL1100, so you can see if they match.  Mine does to others, since it's been painted, who knows what else might have changed.

The bags have more squarish corners, more like a HD. Doesn't look anything like your roundish corner one.

[fiddle mike]

I appreciate the thought Gordon.  I had an '82 that came to me with H-D bags and trunk, and I've been around a classic Wing, or two. These are a totally different animal from OEM.  I mentioned the age to indicate that they are, indeed, fiberglass rather than ABS. To me, they seem to big for a GL1000  
I've altered the backs of the bags and lids using fiberglass (my first attempt at body work). Trying to repair ABS with fiberglass is like urinating into the wind.


.

That is one reason I posted the pic of my GL1100, so you can see if they match.  Mine does to others, since it's been painted, who knows what else might have changed.

The bags have more squarish corners, more like a HD. Doesn't look anything like your roundish corner one.

[JimC]

I would not use stripper, I would buy or borrow a good sander and sand them with 80 grit first, then progress up to about 180 or 240 before primer. If you use stripper you take the chance of not getting it all off and ruining your final paint. Those bags could be sanded in an hour or two with the proper tools.
Jim