Mikos_89

For those DIY painters in the haaause. What are you guys using to clean the surface before painting?

I've always had good results with Kleen-Strip brand prep-sol, but the local paint store doesn't carry the 1-gallon sized containers any longer. They gave me some BS reason about Cali environment laws making it illegal for them to still sell that product in that size. However, they still sell the small spray-can versions of the same product.

I asked them if Sikkens "surface-prep-cleaner" would work since the store still had that product in a 1-gallon size. Unfortunately, the clerk said no because Sikkens surface prep is (water-based) not (solvent-based) like prep-sol. Do I really need to use a solvent based cleaner? Or, would a water based one work just as well? I prefer to buy it in a 1-gallon size if I can.

I need something that's going to be able to clean bare metal and primed/previous painted surfaces for new paint. I have a lot of small parts I need to repaint.

Thanks.

Mikos_89

Just so everyone knows,

I just purchase the Sikkens M600 "anti-static" surface prep cleaner in the 1-gallon size. I think it's the only surface cleaner still available in a 1-gallon size. I tried it out on a spare part and sprayed some self-etch primer over it. Works real good. Just like the Prep-Sol, but anti-static as well.

The story about Cali environment laws prohibiting the sale of paint degreasers in 100% liquid form is apparently true. All paint degreasers sold now have to be in a aerosol spray can. No more quart/gallon sized jugs of it in pure liquid form anymore.

I would've purchased the spray can Prep Sol, but I felt more comfortable using a cleaner I could apply where needed with a small rag rather than spraying the stuff all over the place with a spray can.