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Old 29th Jul 2019, 3:45 pm   #21
ColinTheAmpMan1
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Default Re: Traditional Paint Stripper.

What is wrong with using the even-more traditional method of "blowlamp-and-paint-scraper, followed by varying grades of glasspaper?
Just a thought....
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Old 29th Jul 2019, 4:48 pm   #22
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Default Re: Traditional Paint Stripper.

It requires a modicum of practice to acquire the skill to loosen the paint just right without scorching the surface underneath. With old paint there's also lead fumes to get excited about
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Old 29th Jul 2019, 6:52 pm   #23
David G4EBT
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Default Re: Traditional Paint Stripper.

Quote:
Originally Posted by OldTechFan96 View Post
Wilkinson's own brand paint stripper works really well in my opinion. It's only £3.50 for 500ML and goes a long way.
Wilko's stripper covers 1 square Metre per litre. Looking at the reviews, most give it five stars, and even the four and three star reviews are quite favourable, marking it down on the slowness and sometimes the need for more than one application.

In fairness, most who bemoan the non-availability of Dichloromethane (Methylene Chloride) to untrained domestic users (myself included), probably haven't tried the stuff that is now available - I certainly haven't, and such criticism as I've read, which has been extensive, tend to widely held anecdotal views that nothing works as good as Methylene Chloride.

Looking at the favourable reviews of Wilco's stripper, there are examples (including a picture) of it having been used to strip paint off ceramic tiles in a bathroom, and stripping seven coats of paint off bannisters. I shudder to think of anyone using methylene chloride for indoor uses such as that. It's illegal for trained professionals to do that nowadays, let alone DIYers.

When my last dregs of Paramose runs out, I think I'll be heading for Wilko!
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Old 29th Jul 2019, 7:08 pm   #24
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Default Re: Traditional Paint Stripper.

Thanks for all the help / insight / comments.
It's varnish on a vintage radio woodie that needs removing - it's too far gone.
It was only when I realised the Nitromors (had it sitting in a cupboard for ages) was virtually exhausted that I discovered it had become unobtainium (cue much rude language...)
I certainly don't fancy my (very limited) skills with a blowlamp; I know how that would end.
I have actually purchased some Wilko stripper (having bowed to the apparently inevitable, i.e. I ain't getting any of the old stuff,) we'll see how it goes.
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Old 29th Jul 2019, 7:37 pm   #25
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Default Re: Traditional Paint Stripper.

A while back I needed to strip an Eddystone cabinet and found that the "Diall" branded stuff from B&Q worked surprisingly well, though it was a _lot_ slower than classic Methyl Chloride Nitromors, and didn't give that nice "crinkling" effect that really let you know it was working.

https://www.diy.com/departments/b-q-.../262263_BQ.prd
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Old 30th Jul 2019, 4:16 am   #26
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Default Re: Traditional Paint Stripper.

Langlow Strip Away Pro is the real deal, a proper methylene chloride paint stripper. It's quite readily available if you do a little searching online.
Regards,
Richard

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Old 30th Jul 2019, 9:18 am   #27
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Default Re: Traditional Paint Stripper.

For veneered or fine solid wood I use Liberon Fine Wood Stripper https://www.liberon.co.uk/product/fine-wood-stripper/

It takes a time to work, and is nothing like as aggressive as methylene chloride. But for a veneered radio cabinet, that would be my choice. I always have a can on the workshop shelf.

I buy it locally from https://www.toolpost.co.uk/product/l...tripper-500-ml .

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Old 30th Jul 2019, 11:14 am   #28
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Default Re: Traditional Paint Stripper.

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Originally Posted by YoungManGW View Post
Langlow Strip Away Pro is the real deal, a proper methylene chloride paint stripper. It's quite readily available if you do a little searching online.
Regards,
Richard
I have just looked up this product and the caveats on its use by untrained operators are there to be seen.

May I continue to be a bit pedantic on this topic? The solvent which has been banned is methylene dichloride, or methylene chloride. Methyl chloride isn't the same - it is related to chloroform, which is trichloromethane and only has one carbon atom, as opposed to methylene dichloride which contains two carbon atoms and two chlorine atoms. I wouldn't mind betting that all of the methyl- and methylene- chloride compounds are controlled in some fashion. Probably all of the fluoro- and chloroflouro- compounds, too. I appreciate that it may not matter much to many on this forum, but correct nomenclature may prevent errors, or worse.

Colin.
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Old 30th Jul 2019, 1:58 pm   #29
David G4EBT
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Default Re: Traditional Paint Stripper.

Quote:
Originally Posted by YoungManGW View Post
Langlow Strip Away Pro is the real deal, a proper methylene chloride paint stripper. It's quite readily available if you do a little searching online.
Regards,
Richard
Just like Paramose, it's banned in most EU States and has been since 2009 for non-professional use as it contains Methylene Chloride, but you're right, it can still be obtained if you poke around on ebay for a source with no questions asked and no mention of the hazards or regulations. (It took me 3 clicks and 2 minutes to find a source).

'Ride at your own risk'.

Here's what the manufactures of Langlows Strip Away Pro - Palace Chemicals - say about it, which also explains why non-Methylene Chloride water-based strippers are not so effective with some types of paint coatings:

Quote:

It is uniquely effective in removing specialised industrial paints such as two-pack epoxy coatings, cellulose lacquers, traffic paints and powder coatings which are not as easy to remove using less volatile water-based paint stripping products. Note: Operators using this product must have received full training and be competent in the use of control systems both engineered and for personal protection from exposure to vapour levels above the workplace exposure limit for Methylene Chloride.

Restricted to industrial use and to professionals approved in certain EU Member States – verify where use is allowed.

• Contains Methylene Chloride
• The fastest acting Paint Stripper available
• For use only by trained operators
• Rapid blistering & penetration of coatings
• Effective on industrial & two-pack coatings
• Will remove automotive paints

End quote.

https://palacechemicals.co.uk/shop/l...away-pro-copy/

They did make a Langlows Strip Away Product called Strip 'n Lift' for non-professional use, which is now discontinued, which they state is:

• Non-flammable
• Non-methylene chloride
• Water based low VOC
• Blisters and softens paint layers
• Clings to vertical surfaces

They now do a 'paste on' Strip Away for non-professional use which sounds a bit of a faff as it has to be pasted on and a special polyethylene and fibrous tissue applied over it till the paint has emulsified. Its active ingredient is Sodium Hydroxide (caustic soda) - a powerful alkali. It claims to strip up to 30 layers of paint, but doubtless it depends on what type of paint.

They state that a 12 kg pack should be sufficient to cover approximately 3.3 square metres at the maximum 3mm spreading rate, and 10 square metres at the minimum 1mm spreading rate. At £102.98 inc VAT (£31 per sq M), I won't be in the queue to buy it any time soon!

https://www.decoratingdirect.co.uk/viewprod/p/PALPA1/

Hmmmm.
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Old 30th Jul 2019, 4:31 pm   #30
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Default Re: Traditional Paint Stripper.

In my experience B&Q paint stripper is useless.
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Old 30th Jul 2019, 5:09 pm   #31
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Default Re: Traditional Paint Stripper.

When i was making large PU mouldings the pressurised nozzles delivering and pre-mixing the two compounds required had to be flushed afterwards with DCM. This did not concern me too much until I contemplated the extraction gear, which consisted of a fan, attached to some ducting, which was poked out of an open casement window. The PU mouldings were cured by water running thro' the mould at 60C, and the room therefore had an ambient of about 38C. Polish Pete worried me further when he removed the gloves that we used for protection at the end of the shift, dropped them in the waste bucket and poured some DCM on them. They bubbled up and slowly disintegrated as we watched.
This wasn't in the sixties, this was round about year 2000. Even the smell of DCM now makes me nervous! I am glad it's restricted.
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Old 30th Jul 2019, 6:02 pm   #32
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Default Re: Traditional Paint Stripper.

Quote:
Originally Posted by ColinTheAmpMan1 View Post
The solvent which has been banned is methylene dichloride, or methylene chloride. Methyl chloride isn't the same
Indeed. Which is why I referred to methylene chloride.

Regards,
Richard
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Old 30th Jul 2019, 6:14 pm   #33
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Default Re: Traditional Paint Stripper.

Quote:
Originally Posted by ColinTheAmpMan1 View Post
May I continue to be a bit pedantic on this topic? The solvent which has been banned is methylene dichloride, or methylene chloride. Methyl chloride isn't the same - it is related to chloroform, which is trichloromethane and only has one carbon atom, as opposed to methylene dichloride which contains two carbon atoms and two chlorine atoms. I wouldn't mind betting that all of the methyl- and methylene- chloride compounds are controlled in some fashion. Probably all of the fluoro- and chloroflouro- compounds, too. I appreciate that it may not matter much to many on this forum, but correct nomenclature may prevent errors, or worse.

Colin.
As far as I can see, both methyl chloride and methylene chloride have one carbon atom (per molecule).

Methyl chloride = chloromethane = CH_3Cl (1 carbon, 3 hydrogen, 1 chlorine atom)

Methylene chloride = dichloromethane = CH_2Cl_2 (1 carbon, 2 hydrogen, 2 chlorine atoms).

Chloroform = trichloromethane = CHCl_3

Carbon tetrachloride ('Carbon Tet') = tetrachloromethane = CCl_4
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Old 30th Jul 2019, 8:42 pm   #34
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Default Re: Traditional Paint Stripper.

I refer back to post#8. The paint stripper I use is "useless" B&Q. It strips anything if you have a modicum of patience. I've used it on furniture, radio cabinets, gramophone cabinets etc. No lifting of veneer, inlay, banding or my skin. Personally I consider waiting overnight a small price to pay if, when my grandchildren reach my age there are still fish in the rivers, bees, butterflies and hedgehogs in the garden and birds in the air.
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Old 30th Jul 2019, 9:09 pm   #35
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Default Re: Traditional Paint Stripper.

B&Q stripper wouldn't touch the painted boarding on my house - much of which was already peeling. I used plenty of patience thank you. Put copious amounts on and it did barely softened the surface before the mess dried out. It might have done the job if I'd have bought a tanker-full and perhaps tipped the house on its back.

Eventually I resorted to a blowtorch and a scraper - what the environmental impact of this is/was I'm not sure.
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Old 30th Jul 2019, 11:15 pm   #36
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Default Re: Traditional Paint Stripper.

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B&Q stripper wouldn't touch the painted boarding on my house
Well, not really On Topic for this forum.

I don't know whether a myth has been built up about the awesomeness of the original Nitromors. It did not strip all paints - some were quite resistant to it. I'm always amazed that some paints are untouched by acetone and methyl ethyl ketone (MEK). Used brake fluid has been touted (a glycol?) but that is very slow. OK for old recovering paint brushes?

Re Wilko's product, there's no safety data sheet for it on the net so its constituents are unknown. The Wickes' stuff, which I like, is (IIRC) benzyl alcohol which does not seem to set off any safety or environmental alarm-bells. It has virtually no odour and has not produced any irritation when I've got it on my skin. It comes as a gloopy liquid, which clings nicely to vertical surfaces. Again, some paints resist it very well.

B
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Old 31st Jul 2019, 1:21 am   #37
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Default Re: Traditional Paint Stripper.

A brake fluid that used to be good for stripping paint was Castrol Girling Crimson, but this seems to have been unavailable for a couple of decades since the change from drum brakes to disc brakes required higher performance fluids. I used to use it for stripping oil paint from polystyrene models, but the later stuff did virtually nothing.
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Old 31st Jul 2019, 9:05 am   #38
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Default Re: Traditional Paint Stripper.

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Originally Posted by OldTechFan96 View Post
Wilkinson's own brand paint stripper works really well in my opinion. It's only £3.50 for 500ML and goes a long way.
Strange... I've tried the same stuff and found it to be utterly useless. After about four hours of sitting on the surface it lightly softened the top layer of paint (probably four or five layers of old paint altogether) but barely enough to scrape it off. Niotromors used to liquify thick layers of paint within minutes!

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Old 31st Jul 2019, 10:32 am   #39
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Default Re: Traditional Paint Stripper.

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Originally Posted by Bazz4CQJ View Post
I don't know whether a myth has been built up about the awesomeness of the original Nitromors.
Certainly has, I remember Nitromors well (the original stuff) wasn't really impressed with it at all, ended up using a blowtorch.

Paints have different formulas/ingredients so I'd heard.

I'm not a chemist.

Substrates/interface types/conditions vary.

You can still buy rose tinted glasses but be aware the genuine antique ones are worth more to some.

If I wanted some paint stripper these days I'd just go to B&Q or Screwfix and give it a go.

That methylwhateveritis seems to be nasty stuff.

Lawrence.

Last edited by ms660; 31st Jul 2019 at 10:40 am.
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Old 31st Jul 2019, 10:49 am   #40
ColinTheAmpMan1
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Default Re: Traditional Paint Stripper.

Quote:
Originally Posted by TonyDuell View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by ColinTheAmpMan1 View Post
May I continue to be a bit pedantic on this topic? The solvent which has been banned is methylene dichloride, or methylene chloride. Methyl chloride isn't the same - it is related to chloroform, which is trichloromethane and only has one carbon atom, as opposed to methylene dichloride which contains two carbon atoms and two chlorine atoms. I wouldn't mind betting that all of the methyl- and methylene- chloride compounds are controlled in some fashion. Probably all of the fluoro- and chloroflouro- compounds, too. I appreciate that it may not matter much to many on this forum, but correct nomenclature may prevent errors, or worse.

Colin.
As far as I can see, both methyl chloride and methylene chloride have one carbon atom (per molecule).

Methyl chloride = chloromethane = CH_3Cl (1 carbon, 3 hydrogen, 1 chlorine atom)

Methylene chloride = dichloromethane = CH_2Cl_2 (1 carbon, 2 hydrogen, 2 chlorine atoms).

Chloroform = trichloromethane = CHCl_3

Carbon tetrachloride ('Carbon Tet') = tetrachloromethane = CCl_4
Quite so, Tony. I must have been on a different planet when I posted that. Organic carbon compounds with two carbon atoms are, of course, ethyl and ethylene.

YoungManGW, my "correction" wasn't aimed at you, but at G6Tanuki, who did use the name Methyl Chloride.

Apologies for the confusion and thanks to Tony for the erudite correction.

Perhaps I should go and get my coat....

Colin.
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