[TxCajun]

The bed panels have about 5 or 6 coats of old paint and primer, plus a few areas with heavy bondo.

I find that the Harbor Freight 4-1/2 In. Polycarbide Abrasive Wheels do a really good job of removing paint and rust, but they wear out quickly on heavy paint and shred quickly if you hit a rough area or a metal edge.

So, I've been using a Harbor Freight 3 In. Twisted Wire Cup Brush to remove the bondo and 80% to 90% of the paint layers, and then finish up with the Polycarbide Abrasive Wheel. The metal panel only gets slightly warm to the touch, and the result is a very clean finish.

Using this method, I was able to strip each side panel in about 2 1/2 hours.

I used two of the Wire Cup Brushes and two of the Polycarbide Abrasive Wheels to strip the exterior of the bed and both sides of the tailgate.

Highly recommend a dust mask, face shield (lots of flying debris), and hearing protection.
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