SHARKSTRIP ® / SHARKGRIP COATINGS
Professional Paint Stripper

Professional-grade non-methylene chloride stripping chemistry engineered in-house by SharkGrip Coatings built for the coating stacks you actually see in the field.

This Is Not “A Stripper.” This Is a Stripping System.

Methylene chloride (MC) relied on heat + flash. SharkStrip relies on penetration + dwell. That’s the new reality. Predictable results now come from a repeatable process: surface relaxation → solvent activation → heavy wet application → controlled dwell → razor verification.

Methylene Chloride Is Gone — Pros Move Forward

MC’s “wow factor” came from instant blistering. It looked successful… but it often dried fast, sealed lower layers, forced repeat applications, and created waste. SharkStrip works differently — it rewards prep discipline and wet dwell time.

Cold Weather Application Notice

SharkStrip® uses a migration-based digestion process rather than the heat-driven swelling associated with legacy methylene chloride systems. Replacing heat-driven swelling required a different approach — this is modern chemistry, and it rewards disciplined application.

Many experienced refinishers built their careers using heat-based stripping systems. Adjusting to a migration-based digestion process can take a short learning period — something even our own technical staff had to overcome during development and field testing.

In colder jobsite or storage temperatures, it is possible to achieve initial penetration while internal migration slows before the digesters reach the bond line. This can result in a softened film that still resists push-through removal.

• Store indoors year-round
• Warm using heat blanket or heat pad if needed
• Product must be pourable at application
• Avoid applying cold-soaked product straight from vehicle storage

IMPORTANT NOTICE

SharkStrip® is a professional, non-methylene chloride (MC-free) paint stripper system. Surface preparation and application technique are CRITICAL. Shortcutting the system can double strip time and reduce results.

DIRECTIONS FOR USE (SYSTEM METHOD)

1. Ventilation & PPE
   Establish proper ventilation before opening or applying SharkStrip®. Wear required PPE.
2. Mixing
   Ensure lid is tight. Shake well before use.
3. STEP 0A = REVISION CODE — STORAGE TEMPERATURE
   
   SharkStrip relies on penetration and internal migration. Cold product can slow migration and allow recovery to begin before digestion reaches the bond line.
   Requirement: Product must be pourable at application.
   • Store indoors at consistent room temperature
   • Warm using heat blanket or heat pad if needed
   • Avoid applying cold-soaked product straight from vehicle storage
4. STEP 0 — SYSTEM REQUIREMENT
   
   Surface Decontamination (Penetration Unlock)
   Penetration fails when the surface is coated in invisible contamination film (soap scum, wax, silicone, oils, polish). This step is what turns SharkStrip into a predictable system.
   Recommended Decontamination:

   • SWAT® — Solvent Wipe All Traces (Recommended)

   SWAT is designed to lower surface tension and melt soap films so the coating can relax and accept penetration.
   System truth: Decontamination is not “extra.” It prevents strip time blow-ups.
5. Mandatory Surface Preparation (Penetration Prep)
   Thoroughly clean the surface. Remove soap residue, waxes, silicones, oils, polishes, and surface contaminants.
   
   STEP 1 — Solvent Wipe
   Perform your solvent wipe to remove remaining residue and relax the surface. Allow to flash completely.
   
   STEP 2 — Dry Scuff (Non-Abrasive)
   Scuff using:
   • Purple strip pads, or
   • Black strip pads ONLY
   DO NOT SAND AS THE FIRST STEP. Sanding before decontamination and dry scuff can grind contamination into the surface and block penetration.
   WARNING: Skipping or shortcutting prep can DOUBLE strip time.
6. STEP 3 — Controlled NON-MECHANICAL Sanding (If required)
   This is usually required with a FULL STACK (multiple coating layers over epoxy or bonding primer). Direct-to-surface coatings with no etch will always strip easier.
   
   Acceptable grit range:
   • 35 Grit
   • 45 Grit
   • 65 Grit
   • Up to 80 Grit MAX
   After controlled sanding, wipe again and allow to flash before application.
7. Critical Solvent Activation (Required)
   After prep, perform a solvent wipe to shock and soften the coating. This step opens the coating surface and improves penetration.
   
   Approved solvent wipes:
   
   • Toluene
   • Xylene
   • Acetone
   • Lacquer Thinner
   Cold Weather Note: In colder environments, solvent activation becomes even more important to help prevent early film recovery before digestion reaches the bond line.
   Pro Insight: On heavily contaminated tubs (soap scum, wax, polish, silicone), do a full clean first, then solvent activation. Contamination blocks molecular penetration and slows stripping dramatically.
8. Application Method
   Apply SharkStrip® with a brush in a HEAVY, THICK coat. Brush in ONE DIRECTION ONLY.
   DO NOT brush back and forth. Back-and-forth brushing increases evaporation and reduces penetration. One-direction brushing helps reflect active chemistry downward into the film.
9. Dwell Time
   Allow SharkStrip® to dwell undisturbed for 15–20 minutes minimum at room temperature. 
   Below ~65°F, extended dwell may be required due to slower internal migration.
   
   Avoid airflow directly over the surface.
10. Airflow Control (Critical)
    Exhaust ventilation is recommended. DO NOT point fans directly at the wet stripper. Airflow across the surface will evaporate active solvents and reduce penetration.
    
    As long as SharkStrip is wet, it is working.
11. PRO TEST (Make This a Habit)
    At the 20–25 minute mark (longer in colder conditions), use a NEW razor blade and test a small area. Don’t guess. Don’t judge by bubbles or surface softening alone.
    
    What you want is the transition from grab shaving to push-through collapse. That’s digestion reaching the bond line.

PRO TIP — Use Dwell Time Wisely

Once ventilation and prep are complete and SharkStrip is applied, do not stand around waiting. Use dwell time to compress total job time:

• Carry in equipment and tools
• Mask and protect surrounding surfaces
• Stage disposal bags, scrapers, and razor blades
• Set up rinse and neutralization area

Professionals let the chemistry work while they work.

PROFESSIONAL NOTE

This is not an instant-blister, methylene chloride stripper. SharkStrip is a penetration system. Performance comes from wet dwell time, not visual bubbling.

Just because you don’t see crinkling does NOT mean it’s not working. In cold weather, you may see softening while recovery still resists push-through removal.

At the 20–25 minute mark (longer in colder conditions), use a NEW razor blade and test. That’s how pros verify progress.

MC is Gone. Performance Isn’t.

SharkStrip® is a modern MC-free stripping system designed for today’s coatings — built for professionals who want predictable, repeatable results through penetration chemistry and disciplined prep.