fireplace paint removal

[Maddie-Rose]

Hi not sure if anyone can help me here. I have a victorian fireplace that has layers of paint on which I am hoping to remove. We have bought some causic soda and painted it on quite thickly as per instructions but to no avail.

Can anyone advise on the best way to remove, or even if we are using the caustic incorrectly?

Thanks

 

[Feltwell]

Welcome Maddie

It depends on what is has been painted with. Rather than caustic soda, personally I'd start with Nitromors, which you can get from any DIY store.

Lots of folks on here use a company called Strippers of Sudbury (just Google them) for paint stripping supplies - they are very good, their website contains lots of information. You may have to get some of their sample packs and try out a few different things before you find something that works. If your fireplace has had ordinary gloss paint put on it then you'll be fine, otherwise it will be a case of trial and error, but I can pretty much promise that whatever has been painted onto your fireplace, Strippers will sell a potion to remove it!

Good luck.

 

[skier-hughes]

I bought a metal fireplace adn used nitromors to remove all the paint.
It did an excellent job, after two applications, removing lots of layers.
My benefit was the fireplace was out of the house, which made life very easy.

I also use strippers of sudbury for paint removal products, in particular klingstrip for my beams. If you want to chat with them, they are a mine of information and extremely friendly.

 

[AMc]

Be careful of sanding or heat guns on old paint as it may well contain lead which when heated or turned into dust can be very bad for you.
I would try nitromors first though I've had little luck with it myself. If the fireplace is not attached to the building then it may be worth having it dipped professionally rather than trying to do it yourself.

 

[Penners]

I've never tried simple caustic soda, Maddie-Rose - nor would I, frankly. It's nasty stuff, which can do you a fair bit of harm. Not only that, but it can have a deleterious effect on the wood - particularly softwood. It can darken the colour, raise the grain and dry out the oil, making the wood brittle.

Just to repeat what others have said, if your fireplace is hardwood, I would suggest you try Klingstrip from http://www.stripperspaintremovers.com/. If it's softwood, you're probably better off using non-drip Nitromors. Neither of them is completely innocuous but they're a fair bit safer than caustic soda. Just be sure to take the usual precautions with gloves and goggles.

 

[Maddie-Rose]

Thanks for all your advice. I've used nitromors in the past, but being so expensive was trying to use something more cost effective I guess, and had heard over the years that caustic can be a good choice.

I've never heard of strippers from Sudbury, but will take a look at that site when I get a minute for any hints or ideas. AMc I would NEVER use a heat gun on any old dubios paint, as we have come across lead paint primer in some of the skirtings around the house, and have always kept the paint removal wet.

Penners I understand your reasoning for not using caustic on softwoods, and totally agree with you that it would ruin the wood, however our fireplace is cast iron, so we're not too worried about damaging the metal as such, but just removing paint layers to restore the patterns on the fireplace No worries about googles and safety gear as have otherhalf doing the job, or at least trying.

We did think about dipping professionaly, however, I thought they used caustic soda? or perhaps I'm wrong. It seems the general thinking is to try Nitromors first, so maybe will try that next.

Thanks for your advise

 

[Feltwell]

No worries about googles and safety gear as have otherhalf doing the job

You sound just like Mrs F. I'm sure I caught her scanning the small print on the life insurance policy last time I was working on the roof :wink:

(Only teasing - I know what you really mean!)

 

[Andrew Bodenham]

Maddie-Rose,

I've used caustic soda for DIY stripping of small cast iron items with great success - door furniture, hinges etc. I've found it much more effective that a solvent stripped (nitromors et al) and with less of a fume problem. My approach has been to make up a bucket of solution, then let the items soak in it overnight. By next day most of the paint has fallen off and the remainder can be removed by washing with a scrubbing brush. Disposal of the used solution depends on your drainage sysyem...mmm!

Take safety precautions VERY SERIOUSLY as caustic is nasty stuff in contact with skin / eyes.

However, for something the size of a fireplace I'd look at having it done by trade paint stripper who uses caustic dip tanks. You'll get it back power-washed clean without the hassle and mess of doing it yourself. NB: I do not recommend the use of caustic dipping for woodwork of any sort; solvent, poultice or hot-air stripping would always give better results. Hope that helps.

 

[Penners]

Maddie-Rose

If your fireplace is metal, then I withdraw much of what I said above (this demonstrates the value of giving the full picture when a question is first asked!). I agree entirely with Andrew's analysis above.

However, before you consider taking the fireplace out and carting it off to be dipped, I would compare the cost of that with the cost of using something like Klingstrip yourself in situ.

 

[Moo]

And repairing the damage caused when removing and reinstalling it.

 

[skier-hughes]

some pics of my fireplace

 

[c r]

Hi, Ive used caustic soda mixed with water and flour (or wallpaper paste) to thicken solution. Its effective but can get messy and of course health and saftey must wear gloves throughout, and really goggles too, at least whilst mixing. & a big bit of thick plastic on the floor, because there will be drips and blobs and sticky paint dropping/slumping off at random...

yep be careful of any wood nearby as has been said!

If you cover the paste with clingfilm this will help stop evaporation of the paste. You could leave it at least overnight like this. Its a bit trial and error depending on how many layers of paint there are, and how strong you make the mix. Inevitably there will be bits that need a bit more attention.

To wash and neutralize the alkalinity of the soda residue a vinegar solution can be used, particularly to stop any new paintwork being affected, but also of course for saftey. Would say best to do this even if its a non-porous surface, incase of leftover dried residue