Stripping paint off metal

FaceHead

Hi Folks -  I'm planning to paint strip a fireplace surround and repaint it, so am looking for recommendations on the right product to use.

The alternative would be to have it done professionally if the right products are expensive and/or don't give a good result.

Thanks,

[Deleted User]

Hi,

this'll do the job.

FaceHead

Cheers - yes I've found nitromors to be very successful in getting paint off woodwork around the house. I might even have some left over, but not nearly enough. I do think it's a bit pricey through, and wondered if there are better things out there for metal before I buy some more 

Jeepers_Creepers

Will Nitromors attack clingfilm? If not, then wrap the Nitro-applied areas and it'll slow down the drying process and focus the stripping action (ooh-er, mussus).

Mickey666

Nitromors used to be a very good product until the 'elf n safety' police banned the active ingredient dichloromethane.

greyteam1959

Hot air paint stripper & wire brush.

George_Michael

greyteam1959 said:

Hot air paint stripper & wire brush.

If the paint is heat resistant ( after all, it's a fireplace surround), it might taken an awful lot of heat to get it off as some of these paints are specified for use on things that get up to about 800c.

Ebe_Scrooge

As Mickey666 says, good old Nitromors is sadly not as good as it used to be since the elf 'n' safety brigade stuck their oar in.  You could try using a wire brush attachment in an electric drill, with a wire brush for getting into any nooks and crannies.  It's worth doing a quick Google to see if there are any shot-blasting firms near you, quite often they'll be able to do relatively small pieces of work such as yours for not a lot of money.  A friend of mine is into restoring old motorbikes, he often gets odd parts, frames, etc. shot-blasted by a local company, he reckons for what they charge it's hardly worth the effort of doing it himself.

droopsnoot

There's a paint stripper called "Starchem Synstrip" which is fairly similar to the old-style Nitromors. I've used it with good success on car paint where modern Nitromors won't touch it. A local car paint supplier might have it, or you could buy it online. Chemicals; Aerosols (starchem.co.uk)

lemondrops69

Can you remove the fireplace surround? If so I'd recommend getting it shot blasted, more expensive but will remove all the paint and is far less mess and maybe quicker My dad did this on his surround, came up really nice, think he paid £80-ish, maybe less

FreeBear

lemondrops69 said: Can you remove the fireplace surround? If so I'd recommend getting it shot blasted, more expensive but will remove all the paint and is far less mess and maybe quicker

The danger with shot or grit blasting - If it is cast iron, there is a very real risk that it can break under the stress of being blasted. It also leaves a pretty rough surface, although that is dependent on the media being used.

A safer option would be a Dip'n'Strip.