Paint stripper does not do what it says on the tin

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Paint stripper does not do what it says on the tin

This topic has 17 replies, 10 voices, and was last updated 22 July 2025 at 11:22 by Nigel Graham 2.

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18 July 2025 at 16:27 #807761
Greensands
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@greensands
I am trying to recover some straight and potentially useful lengths of ¼” diameter mild steel rod salvaged from an unwanted wine rack but the bad news is that the black coating does not respond to my current tin of Nitromors paint stripper. Given the cost of steel these days, this is very frustrating and I am sure that Nitromors I bought in the good day before ‘elf’ and his mate came on the scene I would not have this problem. A part from using abrasive means or perhaps a scraper, are there any other possible ideas out there?

I should perhaps add that the tin of Nitromors although some 8 years old now is perfectly fluid and brushable and to be honest has been effective in the past when applied to some DIY aerosol painted parts
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18 July 2025 at 16:33 #807764
John Haine
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@johnhaine32865
Blowlamp aka blowtorch
18 July 2025 at 16:35 #807765
Diogenes
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@diogenes
Sure it’s paint not a powder coating?
18 July 2025 at 16:44 #807769
Greensands
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@greensands
The thought had occurred to me and no, I am not sure if it is a paint coating. If it is a powder coating, then what might the answer be?
18 July 2025 at 17:34 #807777
Diogenes
Participant
@diogenes
That’s the problem – you might try heating and scraping, blasting or abrading, some ‘mechanical’ means as opposed to ‘chemical’.

The trouble with powder coating is that there are only two kinds, the kind that falls off itself after a few months (used for expensive automotive accessories or similar visually sensitive goods), or the kind that is stuck on there forever (reserved for ‘throwaway’ consumer durables) 😁
18 July 2025 at 18:15 #807781
Greensands
Participant
@greensands
Problem now resolved. What turned out to be I’m sure a powder coating did in deed come off with mild heating and scraping. Many thanks to all who replied. I now have some very useful lengths of mild steel bar for future use.
19 July 2025 at 10:02 #807841
noel shelley
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@noelshelley55608
Are you SURE its 1/4″ and not 6mm ? Noel.
19 July 2025 at 10:46 #807849
Dave Halford
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@davehalford22513
Paint removal can result in metal shrinkflation :O)
19 July 2025 at 11:10 #807850
noel shelley
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@noelshelley55608
In reply to Mr Halfords comment, Hot rolled it will only contract as it cools, The biggest dimensional change is that of shrinkage that takes place as the metal changes state, from liquid to solid – I doubt that that much heat was used ? Noel.
19 July 2025 at 17:00 #807887
Dave Halford
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@davehalford22513
And there was me assuming you were making a light hearted comment on whether Greensands had measured before stripping the coating.

I now understand you just assumed he may have measured it wrong.
19 July 2025 at 21:08 #807953
Greensands
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@greensands
Sure enough, when the coating had been removed, the rod did mike up to 6mm diameter. In fact, the whole process of removial was quite simple, all that was required being a single longitudinal cut with a Stanley knife and then peeling back the plastic layer. Oh well, put it down to experience!
20 July 2025 at 01:37 #807992
Pete.
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@pete-2
Nitro mors and most paint strippers sold now are absolute junk, some law was brought in banning the sale of proper stripper for public use, you’ll need a auto body paint shop to get stripper that actually works these days.
20 July 2025 at 07:05 #807994
Diogenes
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@diogenes
If you can’t trust the children not to throw it at each other, then you need to keep it out of their reach..
20 July 2025 at 10:50 #808046
Dave Halford
Participant
@davehalford22513
Another option (though not for this application) is caustic soda based glass fibre paint stripper. It doesn’t have the volatiles that got real Nitro mors emasculated so may still be available. Turns paint to liquid, just don’t spill it on yourself.
20 July 2025 at 10:53 #808047
bernard towers
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@bernardtowers37738
Nitromors was still available a couple of years ago from Classic Finishes in Norwich, they had a big barrel and decanted it!!!!!
20 July 2025 at 11:11 #808052
Taf_Pembs
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@taf_pembs
On 20 July 2025 at 01:37 Pete. Said:

Nitro mors and most paint strippers sold now are absolute junk, some law was brought in banning the sale of proper stripper for public use, you’ll need a auto body paint shop to get stripper that actually works these days.

As Pete says, most paint strippers used to contain the methylene chloride which is known to be quite nasty to us humans along with most living things, even with small exposure it apparently migrates to your liver and causes all sorts of nasties, liver cancer, lung cancer etc..

You can still buy stripper that contains methylene chloride for ‘professional use’ from several places.

Steyer Paints is 1 supplier in the UK that will sell it in various quantities but proper PPE is seriously recommended – proper vapour mask and lots of ventilation etc. I don’t think it is as aggressive as it used to be but it does work. I bought some recently to remove some stubborn red primer of chinese origin where they still use products that are frowned upon in the west that nothing else would touch.
22 July 2025 at 00:11 #808412
Blue Heeler
Participant
@blueheeler
I always wrap the article up coated in paint stripper in a plastic garbage bag for an hour or two. Stops the stripper from drying out and makes it work much better.
22 July 2025 at 11:22 #808501
Nigel Graham 2
Participant
@nigelgraham2
Are some modern paints immune to normal paint-strippers anyway?

Unless the modern forms differ, car brake-fluid will dissolve some paints including cellulose, as some victims of vandalism can attest. It is unlikely to attack plastic coating though.

Caustic soda will remove some paints and is used in, for example, furniture-restoring; though again probably not power-coating.
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