Removing Paint

[ED21]

I have an old sailboat that has paint that is starting to crack & flake off on interior bulkheads & deck. All on sound(no rot)plywood.<br />Many coats of hard enamal.<br />Any suggestions for removing so I can repaint.<br />So far not very impressed w/ paint remover.<br />Maybe a heat gun. Will it damage plywood?<br />Should I remove all paint or just loose stuff. Then sand & repaint.

 

[petrolhead]

Re: Removing Paint

Heat gun should be OK with care, are you using the correct type of paint stripper though? There are different formulations for enamels, varnish etc... and the correct ones do work better.<br />If you use the heat gun just be careful that there are no epoxy joints around where you are stripping, heat softens epoxy and could seperate the joint.

 

[G DANE]

Re: Removing Paint

I know several wooden boat owners that only removes loose stuf and sand afterwards with god results. Why remove what already prooved it can stay on ? Only to replace it with new similar material. If the original job was done properly, that is.

 

[BillP]

Re: Removing Paint

You may have the wrong stripper if it isn't working. Most of the strippers I've used on wooden boats with thick paint take several applications. Stripper, scrap...stripper, scrape, etc. It's easier than heat or sanding. If the paint flakes all the way down to the wood you probably want to take all the paint off. If it flakes down to another sound paint layer you are ok just sanding the first down and feathering the edges. <br /><br />For best results on painting wood, heavily thin the first couple of coats so they fill the grain...then do the last coats.

 

[ED21]

Re: Removing Paint

Unfortunately the flakes & cracks in the paint expose the wood. <br />I guess I was expecting to much from a stripper.<br />You're right about strip then scrape then repeat many times.<br />I think I'll try getting off the loose stuff first & take it from there.<br />It's a messy job whichever way I go.

 

[jsfinn]

Re: Removing Paint

Hey Ed - I just picked up an old wood boat that needs the paint stripped too. <br /><br />What brand stripper are you using? They make spray on stripper, liquid strippers, and paste strippers. I was thinking about getting both spray and paste for my project.<br /><br />I'm also guessing that my boat has lead paint on it. If so, the EPA says that you HAVE to use strippers and that you should not dry sand at all.<br /><br />Good luck!