Question about stripping

[GoddessOfGuinness]

Do you use chemical remover, heat and peel, or scrape and sand it off?

[Pale Blue Dot]

1. Is it Friday night already? nt

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

Chemicals can make you ill

and if you use them, be sure to wear at least a face mask. Scraping/sanding is the safest, imho.

[codegreen]

2. haven't found an effective way to deal with the problem.

there must be a way. rack my brain with it all the time.

possibly requires nanotechnology. i need money.

[KCDem]

3. and by following ancient history

if I strip for you would you strip for me?

(really, I'm not hitting on you... unfortunately for TXLib... just got that song in my head) ;)

[LynneSin]

5. I'm not stripping with you - you have VD

or at least someone you know has VD and you're giving them a gift!!

[GoddessOfGuinness]

12. They were all out of

chocolates.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

10. I would...

I'm the only one around here who ever does any stripping.

[Rowdyboy]

4. Haven't had good luck with the heat gun...

So I use chemical remover and lots of scraping/sanding.

[Kolesar]

6. Don't scrape or sand pre1970s house paint, it has lead in it

Some communities actually ban contractors from scraping and sanding houses. They have to use chemicals or heat.

Heat guns are a good choice for lots of applications

[GoddessOfGuinness]

7. I would think that breathing the vapors

from heated paint containing lead would be just as bad...

[Kolesar]

8. I saw it on "this old house"

Hey, I don't make the rules

[GoddessOfGuinness]

9. Always knew those guys

got off on the fumes! ;-)

[Kolesar]

13. Paint huffers local #3487, Boston, Mass

[elsiesummers]

11. Chemicals work best but

the main thing is if the object is small enough to move around try to keep the surface horizontal - then you can sort of pour on the stripper and let it sit - less coats of stripper.

Don't push too hard on the wood when you scrape it - can dent.

You will need lots of gloves and free time - gel stripper will melt right thru them - even the heavy duty orange ones. The stripper itself can start adding up too (about $18 for a large can). If you have several coats of paint to get thru go for the strongest gel chemical.

Have done a lot of paint stripping - it can be a really crappy job - endless hours - especially on a stair rail that had lots of detail and a mantle (tools like a nail file or dental pic are helpful for getting in groves).

Keep air circulating and go out and take a breather occasionally. You don't want to breath that stuff for too long but don't blow a fan directly on the stripper - will dry the stuff out before it works its magic.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

14. Would the gel work on a fireplace?

Some dimwit slathered white paint all over the gorgeous woodwork and fireplace of our ca. 1917 bungalow. I'd really like to restore the natural look...

[geniph]

16. Is it a brick or stone fireplace?

If so, bad news - you will probably never get all the paint out of the crevices of the brick and mortar, no matter what method you use. If it's a smoother surface, then I'd start with heat gun and (sharp!) scraper. If that doesn't do the trick, buy the heavy black nitrile gloves and use a chemical stripper.

Be careful using a heat gun on a fireplace if you think there's any significant creosote buildup, of course.

If you opt to sand, you'll need a heavy-duty sander and don't cheap out on the paper. Change the paper as soon as it loads up, let the paper do the work.

(Hard-won experience on too much sanding from a wooden boat owner.)

[elsiesummers]

18. On wood use the gel

you can strip paint off anything if you have enough time and patience.

My mother stripped white paint off a brick fireplace. You will need a stiff brush after the initial scraping. You might also have to repoint the brick after words.

There is also a stripper I ordered by mail that you can't use on wood - I believe it's bleach based - found it in an add in the Rennovators catalog (take a look in the back of magazines). I used it on tile. I think it is called "peel away." Maybe you can google it. It seemed to be bleach based, IMO. I would try to find this for a brick fireplace.

Something else - if you apply stripper with a brush use a natural bristle brush (a cheap one) the synthetic ones will melt.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

20. Could that be the citrus product

that SpikeTrees mentioned?

[Kolesar]

15. I saw an infomercial for a "safe" citrus paint remover

I thought it was citrus, not that brain-killing chemical, Methyl Ethyl Ketone

[elsiesummers]

19. The citrus stuff is weak

wouldn't use it on more than a couple coats of paint - no comparison - way too much work - and it doesn't seem as non toxic as they make out either.

[leftofthedial]

17. heat and peel

works for both kinds of stripping

[trof]

21. hanger nades

That's what we used to call 'em.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

23. That might be a little harsh

on the woodwork... :-)

[Dees]

22. Kutzit made by savogran..Be careful the stuff is

potent. Need good ventilation. Nothing works like it.