How to remove paint from a Vespa

The three methods for stripping a Vespa

The question how to remove paint from a Vespa can be answered in three different ways. First of all, you can remove the paint with a sandblaster, or, if you don't have one, with sandpaper and a lot of elbow grease. Thirdly, you can use the drill with a wire brush. Three tools for three different methodologies. What makes the difference must first and foremost be the conditions in which the Vespa to be stripped is found. In addition to this it must be borne in mind:
"The work space available for stripping" The costs that can be incurred for this operation "The final goal, the goal you want to achieve" The tools available

Sandblasting: here's how to remove paint from a Vespa

When the Vespa shows traces of rust and other important imperfections, the advice of the experts in the sector is to carry out the paint stripping through careful sandblasting. The sandblasting system makes it possible to restore the base of the Vespa frame, checking all the imperfections and arranging them all, one by one, before spreading the paint again evenly. Only through sandblasting is it really possible to obtain an optimum in the shortest possible time.
How do you proceed? Through the use of a sandblaster, which many professionals own, the frame of the Vespa is brought back to bare and thus all traces of paint and any trace of rust are eliminated thanks to the smoothing effect of the sand.
How does a sandblaster work? The tool, thanks to a compressor, shoots the sand against the frame at a high power.
Attention, however, once sandblasting is completed, the sheet metal is immediately subject to oxidation. It is therefore necessary to use an epoxy primer as soon as possible to block the chemical process in the bud and continue to work on the Vespa in peace. Cost of thorough sandblasting? Turning to a body shop or an engineering workshop you can spend from 150 to 300 euros. In fact, not everyone has a professional sandblaster at home. Moreover, a large enough space is also required to carry out operations in total safety.

Using sandpaper: the pros and cons

The second most used method for stripping a Vespa is the one involving the use of abrasive paper. Recommended by experts only when the vehicle is in good condition and has not suffered damage in the past, it allows you to remove only the gloss on the surface and proceed shortly afterwards to apply an ad hoc primer and the new paint. Among the pros of using abrasive paper for Vespa paint stripping there are certainly:

Rapid elimination of the parts to be treated

Great economy
Among the cons, however:

Less thorough and less thorough work than that performed with sandblasting

A great deal of manpower and patience are required Industry experts advise anyone wishing to remove paint from a Vespa to use a coarse-grained paper first. Only in the final phase can a finer one be used instead.

What is paint stripping using a wire brush applied to the drill?

Among the various options available for how to remove paint from a Vespa there is the possibility of using a wire brush applied to the drill. With it, the frame is bare and all the paint and rust residues are removed, as is the case with sandblasting. Only drawback?
To remove paint with this method, it is advisable to work in large open spaces, but above all to wear a protective mask for the respiratory tract and eyes.