Removing rust/paint off old metal bilco doors

[frankster]

Hi Guys,

What's the best way to remove old paint and rust from old bilco doors?
I have a 120V orbital sander that we tried last year, that didn't work too good. The paint is old and thick... The doors are probably 30 yrs old or so and I want to repaint them this weekend. I'm planning to use Hammerite paint but need to get the old stuff off first.

Thanks again,
Frankster

 

[Camjamsdad]

Chemical stripper. They have some orange flavor that's good for the environment

 

[mikem38]

bilko doors

Naval jelly works, used it on rusted head bolts on motorcycle ate it away
give it a try

 

[countstevula]

Aircraft remover is what they call it now. Spread it on the door, sit and watch it work. Repeat

 

[mikem38]

Loctite makes it still called Naval Jelly rust remover

 

[dajsnipe]

Have vases to any type of media blaster? You might be able to rent one :shrug:

 

[KustomKartKid]

Take them off the hinges and bring them to the nearest sand blaster...then re-install.

 

[GTO]

Take them off the hinges and bring them to the nearest sand blaster...then re-install.

Yep, :thumbsup:

 

[Tom S.]

Hi Guys,

What's the best way to remove old paint and rust from old bilco doors?...

I thought "what's that?", so I looked it up. You don't see those around here.

 

[Boomstick]

If they're a nice, big flat surface, I'd sweep along it with a paint stripping wheel & then follow up with a steel wire wheel. After that, clean, maybe a little sanding, prime, paint, coat.

 

[massacre]

Never heard them called Bilco doors, we call those bulkheads around here.

 

[frankster]

Bilco Door update

Sorry, yea Bilco is a brand name for the type of doors shown in the picture above. Mine are from the 70s I think, they were rusted and had 3-4 coats of paint on them. I ended up using one of those paint removers that attaches to the end of a drill; probably used for old rusted cars...we have allot of those in Michigan!!!!. Its working real good but takes a long time. I'm almost ready to paint, going to do that tomorrow. I couple of guys suggested painting them with truck bed liner via a roller, so I'm going to try that. I'll post some before and after pictures. The truck bed liner paint is made to go on rusted metal and lasts a long time outdoors so it should work good for this application....we will see.

Thanks to all for the great feedback!

Thanks again,
Frankster

 

[frankster]

Its Done

Before Right side

Left Side

During Sanding

Painted with Bedliner

Thanks
Frank

 

[mipowdercoater]

where in michgan are you ? I'm in ann arbor and have never seen one on a house in michigan.

 

[frankster]

Bilco Doors

Any house that has a 'Michigan Basement' ie Furnace, etc. under the house in non-livable space typically uses these. They allow large items (like furnaces, etc.) to be taken to the basement area. Since 'Michigan basements' aren't livable you usually have an access like this from the outside rather than wasting usable inside space to access. You also see these doors on storm shelters.

 

[dajsnipe]

Looks good Frank. :thumbsup:
Mipowdercoat,
We had a set of those on our house too, also in Michigan. There pretty common around hear in PoHo.