How do we clean black paint off our beams?

[JoGill]

Hi
We have just bought a lovely 17thC farmhouse and are planning how to renovate it throughout. We are trying to find out how best to remove the black paint (or dark varnish on some) that is on all our beams. I have seen various views online about sandblasting vs chemical strippers which have confused me. What are people's opinions on how best to go about it, and who could do it.
I'm sure you'll be hearing from me again with loads more questions!
Thanks
Jo

 

[skier-hughes]

http://www.stripperspaintremovers.com/about.htm
KlingStrip
Hard work but very rewarding.
Can do it yourself, or get them to come and do it, or recommend someone.

 

[FamilyWiggs]

Welcome to the forum Jo.

Klingstrip and elbow grease by the bucketload.

Never (as in really really never) sandblast a beam - you'll destroy all the patina and turn it into a piece of driftwood in seconds.

 

[DaveBrigg]

Welcome JoGill. I can't help with advice on this one, but please feel free to post a few pictures of the farmhouse :wink:

 

[Pford75]

I purchased a couple of huge tubs of klingstrip earlier in the year when I was stripping a fireplace and some mouldings. I overestimated how much i'd need and had plenty left over.

I put a piece of clingfilm over the top and sealed the lid tightly. I'm in the process of stripping some mouldings in a hallway and the klingstrip is stil doing the job. So, given that carriage is a large proportion of the cost...I would always err on the side of over-ordering than under-ordering.

BTW - Klingstrip is not only effective, it's a lot less messy than other methods as well

 

[DaveBlair855]

Jo,

As someone who tried to use Klingstrip during the winter on our own renovation project, make really sure that you check the temperature in the room before you use it. If the ambient temperature falls below the level recommended in the instructions, the material dries up and welds itself to the wood, making the process of removal far more labour intensive and messy, not to mention soul-destroying.

Shouldn't think this will cause you any problems in the current balmy conditions, but food for thought should your project extend into the cooler months.

Best of luck and happy renovating.

 

[Hatster]

Warning - Klingstripping is quite addictive! Once you realise how easily you can take off layers of inappropriate paint, your plans expand and expand and expand:

Mr Hatster: "the architraving of that door has got really clogged up with paint"

Hatster: "let me grab the Klingstrip..."

Best of luck with your house, Jo - it will take a long time but be enjoyable, a huge learning opportunity and you have the wonderful people on this forum to help out in any eventuality!

 

[JoGill]

Thanks for the really useful information. We have ordered a trial pot of the stuff and will test it as they recommended on their website before buying the large pots. It looks as if we'll be busy for a few months to come! Does it produce toxic fumes as we have small children in the house? How did people wash it off once it had been on long enough? What do people recommend to apply to the wood as a protective finish after the stripping process e.g. wax, clear varnish? Sorry to bombard you with questions but I will have lots more I'm sure! Please be patient with me as I'm a novice.
Thanks
Jo

 

[Schoolmarm]

Have you had a look back through some older threads? There is some really interesting and informative stuff.

 

[Pford75]

Does it produce toxic fumes as we have small children in the house?

>>There is a faint smell, but nothing like nitromors. I doubt the fumes are an issue....but it is best to keep the kids away whilst it is covered with plastic, since inquisitive hands can easily get some on them and it will burn.

How did people wash it off once it had been on long enough?

>> I used it on both vertical and horizontal surfaces. On the vertical (fire surround) I used a pointing tool to remove most of it and then an old toothbrush and water. On the horizontal (floor), I was able to use soapy water and a stiff broom

What do people recommend to apply to the wood as a protective finish after the stripping process e.g. wax, clear varnish?

>>I would not recommend varnish. Some swear by shellac, some like linseed oil...we used wax.

If you are able to take some photos (before and after), it would be great to see them

 

[skier-hughes]

Our beams had penty of paint and needed plenty of klingstrip and I found investing in the washer attachment a great investment. I managed to get one second hand from someone who had finished with it, but now I know how easy it makes the job I wouldn't hesitate to reccomend buying one new.

 

[Hatster]

I've been wondering what this washer attachment actually is? What is it and how does it work?

 

[Hatster]

p.s. I'd keep children / pets out of the room and open all the windows to be on the safe side, but it doesn't appear to give off toxic fumes.

 

[skier-hughes]

No fumes at all, but it is an alkali, so best kept away from hands and paws.

Vacwash
http://www.stripperspaintremovers.com/product_chart.htm#i
Connects to a pressure washer and a vacuum, high pressure water washes of the residue stripper and the vacuum sucks it away.

 

[FamilyWiggs]

Washes away with plain water. But as posted above, it is an alkali, so gloves and goggles recommended if doing beams above your head.

 

[yamin]

Can I remove by hand? Without a pressure washer I mean? Cannot afford to buy all that, but might just manage a pot of two of klingstrip to tackle our kitchen beams - the kitchen and its floor being replaced so seems ideal time for this kind of project.

 

[Pford75]

Can I remove by hand?

Yes you can. You will find it easier to remove if you time things right....if you leave it too long, it will dry out and will be like scraping dry plaster off the beam...if you don't leave it long enough, not only will it not have had chance to work it's magic on the paint, but it will be very sticky.

In my experience, apply fairly thickly (half inch thick), cover with old plastic bags, leave for about 24 hrs in warm conditions, 36-48 hrs in colder conditions. When removing, have an old bucket or similar available to scrape the gunk into.

 

[yamin]

Thanks for that advice. More questions. Given your method, would you perhaps just do, say, a third of the room at a time? Also, the room will in the midst of being dried out after an underfloor leak at the time. I am hoping this won't make the atmosphere too dry.......my builder (very period property friendly) says the room will stay pretty high with moisture as the machines pull it out from the screed and wet walls, so will only be dry towards the end of the process.

Thanks again

 

[Pford75]

How much of the room you do depends on what you need to strip. As long as the klingstrip is well covered with plastic bags it shouldn't dry out too quickly and when you remove it, (assuming the beams are relatively straight) it shouldn't take too long.

I have stripped 2 door architraves, a fire surround and a wooden chair all at the same time.

 

[skier-hughes]

Our beams had quite a bit of paint on and I found a couple of beams a day was quite enough for me to do with fitting in other work.