Best stripper

[twdevore]

I'm refinishing the teak in my cockpit and am looking for a strong varnish stripper that won't hurt the fiberglass. Suggestions? I'm using something from West Marine that just isn't cutting it after 3 tries.

Tim

(bet you thought the post was about something else entirely...)

 

[topcat0399]

opps! This thread is totally not about what I expected from the title.

Sorry for the intrusion...

 

[JonnyQuest]

Good strippers are indeed hard to find.
I'm working on my hatch boards right now and am up against some TOUGH varnish!

I started with a water based stripper and it had no effect. I then looked for a thick gel type chemical stripper. Not stripeese but a similar brand Lowes had. Looked for the strongest I could find. It stlll took three times and then final sanding to remove it all. Not sure if varnish is stronger or stripper is weaker than when I was a kid. There are also strippers for flooring mastic etc that may be even stronger, if anyone has knowledge there.

I did get some shaped scrapers and may give that a try next time instead of varnish. Moving on to handrails and toe rails next.

 

[Jackdaw]

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090721064440AACxalf

 

[Captn TJ]

Good strippers are indeed hard to find.
I'm working on my hatch boards right now and am up against some TOUGH varnish!

I started with a water based stripper and it had no effect. I then looked for a thick gel type chemical stripper. Not stripeese but a similar brand Lowes had. Looked for the strongest I could find. It stlll took three times and then final sanding to remove it all. Not sure if varnish is stronger or stripper is weaker than when I was a kid. There are also strippers for flooring mastic etc that may be even stronger, if anyone has knowledge there.

I did get some shaped scrapers and may give that a try next time instead of varnish. Moving on to handrails and toe rails next.

A sharp scraper will work better and faster than a stripper. You can also combine with a heat gun ( on a low setting so you don't have burn marks)

BTW I am also looking for a stripper to remove small spots of Cetol from gelcoat.

 

[JonnyQuest]

I did just pick a heat gun up at Harbor Freight (hope it's ok). They are running some sales right now, might still be on sale. FYI.

 

[Maine Sail]

Best stripper

I am partial to curvy blondes...




I generally use a heat gun and scraper for varnish..

 

[Charlie Jones s/v Tehani]

After running a furniture refinishing shop for 20 years I will say that any stripper which contains Methylene Chloride will do the job, BUT the down side is that any good stripper will soften the gel coat to some extent, if left on for a long period. You could use it- just be careful, tape off around, and get it off asap, using some mineral spirits to clean with, which WON'T hurt the gel coat.

And CaptTJ (oops- sorry- meant JonnyQuest)- I'd bet that is a two part finish, such as Bristol Finish or some such. Those, and Polyurethanes, can be a bear to strip.

 

[twdevore]

Hope I didn't start something...

I've never used the heat gun for stripping varnish. I was watching some videos this week and it looks very efficient. I would worry about the fiberglass. I started a new section today and sanded first. Most of the finish came off and it looks nice and clean. I will have to use something around the edges where the sander won't go. And I too have splatters of cetol on the gelcoat. Stripper and a plastic scraper is what I've used. They are stubborn spots. The PO didn't believe in masking....

 

[Brian S]

If you are using a heat gun and scraper, the scraper needs to be SHARP. So, do yourself a favor and buy a Bahco/Sandvik carbide scraper from Jamestown Distributors or similar. I scraped down the whole deck and interior of a 14' boat, then the seats from a 15' boat, and probably some other projects I can't remember, and I still haven't changed/sharpened/whatever that carbide blade.

Oh, and as for strippers, I was liking the picture on the home page advertising this thread.

If you do go with a methylene chloride chemical stripper, keep in mind that crap soaks through just about any glove. I was using 2 pairs of vinyl gloves and still felt it on my hands. I'd go with one of those very beefy, stiff, blue gloves, or stiff black rubber gloves...

Brian

 

[SailMaster]

Forget stripping. I sand the existing coat to smoothness and then apply another coat of finish. Much easier.

 

[finding41]

There is a thread for making your own stripper. (Someware on this site)
I tried it with limited success. (I don't know what a PO used but it wont come off ware I want it to. It has however come off every place ware he painted right over the dirt! No stripper needed!)
The ingredients are; Draino, Slaked lime or hydrolic lime, and Glycerin or Sugar to help keep it moist.
I put plastic over the mix to help keep it wet and active. Let it sit a day.... Nothing. Reapplied and let it sit 3 days.... Nothing.
It was only 10*C out as a daytime high. That may have been the problem in my case.
(I can't find that link...)
Here are some pictures of my failed attempt at stripping the top. First pic is a Safe stripper for boats I had. It wouldn't touch it.

 

[rpwillia]

Peel Away

Here are two strippers I like. The PeelAway, that you can get from Sherwin Williams, is awesome stuff and is the only thing I found that works on fiberglass doors. Just brush it on, wait a few hours if not overnight and it just scrapes off.

http://www.bigpaintstore.com/104-70...erm=104-7032&gclid=CPSY0onIzrgCFZCe4AodPWcAmA

 

[carboman]

Re: Peel Away

I used this to strip the bottom paint from my hunter 23' and it worked great. Its soy based and I found it from a guy up in jacksonville, fl that sells it to the local dog racing tracks to remove the numbers from the dogs without hurting them.

http://www.franmar.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=125&products_id=75

 

[Bill21761]

I have tried a whole range of strippers from Citristrip to the harsh chemical types. Heat gun and scraper is the best.

You can get cetol off of fiberglass and stainless with Citristrip without harming the substrate.

 

[rickboat]

Have always done all my teak by hand or machine. Never even considered a stripper for teak. Good ol' 60 grit does the job.

Rickboat
'80 Sovereign 7m
'Adagio'

 

[twdevore]

Re: Peel Away

A lady at the marina has used this with great results. Not sure if I'd use any type of paint remover on a dog...guess they don't wear the little shirts anymore.

 

[gray_penguin]

I used this to strip the bottom paint from my hunter 23' and it worked great. Its soy based and I found it from a guy up in jacksonville, fl that sells it to the local dog racing tracks to remove the numbers from the dogs without hurting them.

http://www.franmar.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=125&products_id=75

This sounds interesting, How much of the soy gel did it take for your 23'? How did you apply it?

 

[sailcruiser]

I use Citristrip but it is not a fast process. I brush it on thick 1/8-1/4" per the bottle and wait 24 hrs scrape and repeat as needed. I've had damage from over zealous people trying to help so slow and steady for me.

Amazon also works but has a very harsh smell.

SC

 

[Kennyge]

I used Citrustrip which I bought from Homedepot and it worked wonders. My C-25 had been sitting for 4 years, wrapped up, and the varnish was disgusting. One application of of Citrustrip took all the old varnish off in less than 1/2 hour with no damage to gelcoat or the teak. Very gentle, I did not even have to wear gloves.