Removal of enamel from fireplaces.

[1934norfolk]

Happy New Year everyone.

The bedroom fireplaces from my house have been removed in the past. I have bought suitable reclaimed items to replace them.

Both the fireplaces I have are enameled but I would like to strip them back to cast iron and use grate polish. The enamel is in poor condition so I do not want to use them "as is".

One place suggested hot caustic soda but I am not convinced this will strip the enamel. Does anyone have any experience of removing enamel? Would a trip to the local grit blasters achieve what I am looking to do?

 

[plasticpigeon]

I think caustic dipping should work. It took paint and whatever was the original finish off a cast iron fireplace from my house. Grit blasting will work too, but it does leave the surface quite rough, so the caustic dip might be a better first port of call.

 

[a twig]

A long time ago I saw a place that refurbished cast iron and enamel stoves - did exactly what you are after. They swore by bead blasting as the best way to get rid of the enamel...

Just hope it ain't enamel porcelain plating, else you are stuffed...

 

[88v8]

Another vote for bead blasting.
Not used these chaps, but they are in Norfolk
http://www.ripblast.co.uk/blasting.aspx

Ivor

 

[paulc]

There are a number of different materials used for shot blasting. These range from coarse through to fine sands, beads of assorted materials such as steel, glass, and plastic. Slightly more esoteric media would be walnut shells, dry ice, and water ice.

It goes without saying that the final surface finish is highly dependent on the type of media used - A coarse sand will leave a very rough surface that provides a good key for a high build finish such as enamel. Fine sands will give a correspondingly finer surface but are not as effective for removing thick coats of paint. Beads generally give a smoother finish and work harden the surface - Conrods in high performance engines were regularly bead blasted.