Paint removal

angel00079

I have been trying to strip paint from my skirtings on a 1900's house. There are lots of layers of gloss paint with the final layer being a sticky treacle like layer. I have tried heatguns with little sucess. Paint strippers work to a certain extent but you need loads and nearly pass out with the fumes (even in a ventilated area). I have seen products such as Kling-Strip and Peel Away. I am not exactly sure if they are any good. I already have a stock of paint strippers that don't work, I don't want to add to the collection.

Does any know if they are any good or of anything else? Can you buy these products in the West Midlands? I don't really want to have to send off and pay postage/handling fees.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

secretdancer

Can't offer you any advice on the Kling-strip stuff, but I've done the same with the skirting, picture rail, door frames, etc. on one of our rooms last year. I used a heatgun first of all to get rid of the gloss paint. This came off fairly easily but it does take time so perevere. Wait til it begins to bubble, then scrape it off. It'll be like a knife through butter.

This left some of the treacle like layer below. This can be removed partly with the heat gun but it can get very messy and you can risk burning the wood, so perhaps try it on a not so obvious spot. If the heatgun fails then a good paint stripper such as nitromors will lift it off. Again use with caution as it is strong, toxic stuff. You may need a couple of goes at it but it will come off.

If you really don't want to go down the paint stripper route (don't blame you) then get rubbing with some sandpaper. Again a very tiresome process, but it is worth it. Start with a coarse grade to get rid of the treacley stuff. Then use a series of finer grades to finish. I found using one of those detail sanders (e.g. Black and Decker Mouse) speeds this process up dramatically.

Alternatively try using caustic soda and wire wool. Caustic soda dissolved in water, strong pair of gloves/overalls, and plenty of wire wool. Work the caustic soda on the wood with wire wool and the stain should lift right off. If you do it this way you'll probably get away with a light sanding at the end. You'll have to rinse all the soda off thoroughly too.

Looks like you've got a busy winter ahead! At least you won't need the central heating on with all the heat you'll be generating yourself!! Believe me I know - stood there with the back door wide open in the depths of winter!

Nile

secretdancer wrote:

Alternatively try using caustic soda and wire wool. Caustic soda dissolved in water, strong pair of gloves/overalls, and plenty of wire wool. Work the caustic soda on the wood with wire wool and the stain should lift right off. If you do it this way you'll probably get away with a light sanding at the end. You'll have to rinse all the soda off thoroughly too.

Looks like you've got a busy winter ahead! At least you won't need the central heating on with all the heat you'll be generating yourself!! Believe me I know - stood there with the back door wide open in the depths of winter!

Safety First! Please wear goggles to protect your eyes from splashes of caustic soda, if you chose this method of paint removal.;)

Kind Regards

Nile

stanehyve

to remove the "sticky stuff" make a very strong solution of sugar soap with a little wallpaper paste the paste will thicken up the solution, brush on surface, leave for about 10 mins then wash off with cold water and a stiff brush, wash over surface with cold water a couple of times and final rinse should be vinegar and water, the vinegar will kill off any remaining soap, leave to dry overnight.

Hope this helps...(this is an old method of varnish removing)

Regards Stanehyve (proffessional decorator)

carly

Apologies for hijacking this thread, but I have the same question about varnish removal. Seeing that a decorator has replied I hoped to get some advice. I have sapele veneered doors about 30 years old. basically they are ok but the varnish has cracked/ scratched/ worn away around the handles and finger plates with time and looks a mess.

I would like to revarnish the doors but need a clean sound surface first, which easier to say than to acheive.
Can you suggest a way to prepare these doors before re varnishing?
I tried sanding, but the varnish is too hard to shift manually.
I used an orbital sander which hardly made a dent in the varnish and I used a belt sander which tore into the varnish and the veneer almost destroying the door. ( luckily I was practising on the inside of a cupboard door ! ) I used nitromoors varnish remover which took off some varnish, but what was left is a right mess. The nitromoors was v. expensive and I had to use loads, I will need about 10 tins so dont want to go there.
Can these doors be dipped and stripped or will it damage them?
Will the sugar soap/ wallpaper paste work?