good stripper for tough paint
#1
07-12-13, 10:44 AM
good stripper for tough paint
Hello:
Not at all new to DIY, but new to these forums, so I apologize if I put this in the wrong place.
I have an old home (100+) that I have been updating. One thing that has always bothered me that I decided to tackle this year is a pervious owner's bright idea to paint the dining room floor, staircase, and front door trim gloss black. Each are solid wood, and original to the house. No hyperbole - dining room floor is 8" wide solid wood slats, and it has been painted at least 3 times, the most recent job was gloss black. Staircase is also wood, although I suspect a different type, and it is covered in the same awful paint.
I was hoping it was a single coat, and a single bad idea, so I bought a Behr spray-on paint stripper just to get a look at what I'm dealing with. Apparantly I'm dealing with armour - while I knew the aerosol stripper wouldn't be a great product, it did bubble up the black after a few minutes. I took a scraper to it and was left with... black paint. I scraped of a bunch of black, but the floor was still black. I sprayed on another coat, and got dowbn to a wierd multi-colour layer. Sprayed on more, and got to a white layer. Sprayed on more and found the beautiful wood. So, I went a bought a more professional gel-type stripper, that claims to be strong enough to get through at least 5 layers of paint. I tried a new area, put it on thick like directed, waiting the obligitory 15 - 20 minutes, and took the scraper to it only to get a wad of black and be left staring at more black.
I did not see a stripper that was specific to any one paint type, they all claim to be good for all types, and I picked the strongest/most industrial one I could find (for a big box store - this is Home Depot). I forget the one I got, but I skipped the Heirloom stuff because I figured because it is made to strip fine furniture that it would be a little gentler.
So, I'm looking for a suggestion on a product that will strip near-bulletproof paint in multiple layers. Now that I have churned up a few test areas, there is no going back - I refuse to give up and re-paint the floor black. Or paint it period. I know that big box stores are generally not the best place to get the best products, but I am in canada if that makes a difference to availablility of product. I am certainly willing to order something, but obvoiusly being able to go pick something up would be preferred.
I do care about the environment, etc, but for this I'm just looking for something that will (violently is necessary) strip this garbage off so I can refinish the wood.
Any and all advise from those that have the right experience will be greatly appreciated. I am very much hoping that I can effictively strip, rather than sand it off, as that will mean a much bigger hassle, and expense.
Not at all new to DIY, but new to these forums, so I apologize if I put this in the wrong place.
I have an old home (100+) that I have been updating. One thing that has always bothered me that I decided to tackle this year is a pervious owner's bright idea to paint the dining room floor, staircase, and front door trim gloss black. Each are solid wood, and original to the house. No hyperbole - dining room floor is 8" wide solid wood slats, and it has been painted at least 3 times, the most recent job was gloss black. Staircase is also wood, although I suspect a different type, and it is covered in the same awful paint.
I was hoping it was a single coat, and a single bad idea, so I bought a Behr spray-on paint stripper just to get a look at what I'm dealing with. Apparantly I'm dealing with armour - while I knew the aerosol stripper wouldn't be a great product, it did bubble up the black after a few minutes. I took a scraper to it and was left with... black paint. I scraped of a bunch of black, but the floor was still black. I sprayed on another coat, and got dowbn to a wierd multi-colour layer. Sprayed on more, and got to a white layer. Sprayed on more and found the beautiful wood. So, I went a bought a more professional gel-type stripper, that claims to be strong enough to get through at least 5 layers of paint. I tried a new area, put it on thick like directed, waiting the obligitory 15 - 20 minutes, and took the scraper to it only to get a wad of black and be left staring at more black.
I did not see a stripper that was specific to any one paint type, they all claim to be good for all types, and I picked the strongest/most industrial one I could find (for a big box store - this is Home Depot). I forget the one I got, but I skipped the Heirloom stuff because I figured because it is made to strip fine furniture that it would be a little gentler.
So, I'm looking for a suggestion on a product that will strip near-bulletproof paint in multiple layers. Now that I have churned up a few test areas, there is no going back - I refuse to give up and re-paint the floor black. Or paint it period. I know that big box stores are generally not the best place to get the best products, but I am in canada if that makes a difference to availablility of product. I am certainly willing to order something, but obvoiusly being able to go pick something up would be preferred.
I do care about the environment, etc, but for this I'm just looking for something that will (violently is necessary) strip this garbage off so I can refinish the wood.
Any and all advise from those that have the right experience will be greatly appreciated. I am very much hoping that I can effictively strip, rather than sand it off, as that will mean a much bigger hassle, and expense.
#2
07-12-13, 11:53 AM
Welcome to the forums!
I don't use strippers often so when I have the need, I almost always ask the paint rep at the store which stripper will be best for the job at hand.
That said, I wonder if sanding might be a better option. I wouldn't think sanding the paint off of the floor would be much different than sanding poly/stain when refinishing a floor. If you do stick with a stripper you'll still have to sand after the majority of the paint has been chemically stripped. Drum sanders do the best job of stripping the existing finish but they do take a little skill to operate. Over sanding in spots will results in dips
A buffer type sander is slower but is more diy friendly.
What is your end goal? Do you know what type of wood it is?
I don't use strippers often so when I have the need, I almost always ask the paint rep at the store which stripper will be best for the job at hand.
That said, I wonder if sanding might be a better option. I wouldn't think sanding the paint off of the floor would be much different than sanding poly/stain when refinishing a floor. If you do stick with a stripper you'll still have to sand after the majority of the paint has been chemically stripped. Drum sanders do the best job of stripping the existing finish but they do take a little skill to operate. Over sanding in spots will results in dips
A buffer type sander is slower but is more diy friendly.What is your end goal? Do you know what type of wood it is?
#3
07-15-13, 08:59 AM
End goal is to get the paint off, and then protect the wood without staining or painting it again, so it's natural beauty can be enjoyed. Not sure what the wood is, I can't (yet) get a good look at it. The dining room floor has wider slats with a prominent grain texture, I get it even through all this paint. Seems to be a little softer (either a hard softwood or a soft hardwood) I would guess maybe a nice pine. The stairs are different: under the paint the wood seems harder and smoother.
Preference was not to sand, even with modern equipment and techniques it still makes a big mess and disturbance, and I wouldn't say that sanding after stripping is absolutely necessary, I was going to play that by ear. I won't skip that step if I really need it, but I only wanted to play that card out of necessity. Especially in the dining room, my thought was that if inbetween the slats, etc, tiny bits of black were left it might add to the overall character: my end goal does not include a new-looking floor, I'd prefer if it could be cleaned up but retain the look of being 100+ years old. I recently finished a dining room table from wood reclaimed from a 150 year old barn; it is brand new and perfectly finished, but the wood still winks with the character of being that old.
Appreciate the assistance,
Preference was not to sand, even with modern equipment and techniques it still makes a big mess and disturbance, and I wouldn't say that sanding after stripping is absolutely necessary, I was going to play that by ear. I won't skip that step if I really need it, but I only wanted to play that card out of necessity. Especially in the dining room, my thought was that if inbetween the slats, etc, tiny bits of black were left it might add to the overall character: my end goal does not include a new-looking floor, I'd prefer if it could be cleaned up but retain the look of being 100+ years old. I recently finished a dining room table from wood reclaimed from a 150 year old barn; it is brand new and perfectly finished, but the wood still winks with the character of being that old.
Appreciate the assistance,
