From paint to bright

[tagster]

I have a bunch of bright work that was painted over white. Some of it was painted over with a low quality red trim that is coming right off. The red seems easy to deal with, since it seems not to have been properly sanded first and the paint is eager to fall right off. But the white isn't the same story. I'd like to remove all the paint and re-bright it. What's the best course of action for doing that? Should I just break out the sander and get to work, or is there some kind of stripping compound that would make it easier to get all the little white speckles out?

Also, what do you guys suggest for top-side bright work in terms of stain, varnish, wax etc...?

[sailaway21]

That's the trouble with paint. Once you commit to it, be it on brightwork or topsides, you're pretty much stuck with it. That being said, you may try stripping it with an appropriate stripper and then using bronze wool to clean it, which will leave some paint in the pores of the wood. sometimes that appearance is acceptable as you may have seen some varnished floors within houses that have a certain streakiness under the finish in the wood grain that is the result of an earlier painting. If it is of an objectionable level you will be reduced to sanding, and the question there is how much wood material you have to remove to get the paint out. You could well have to remove an amount that will substantially reduce the proportions of your wood.

If you really want a brightwork finish, I'd strip it and then clean it with bronze wool, or sand it very lightly, and live with the "antiqued" look that remains.

[bestfriend]

I hear Easy-Off oven cleaner strips paint better than paint strippers. Haven't tried it myself.

[Sabreman]

I agree with sailaway and bestfriend.

As for the topsides brightwork, the are plenty of threads on that topic. Everyone has their preference. I like Cetol with the gloss finish.

[poopdeckpappy]

Home depot has a product called orange strip, it's citrus based and believe it or not, works really well.

It's very inexpensive and there is a small jug you can get for a trial.

The only drawback is, nats love the sh*t ( must be the citrus smell ) but that's a small matter ( pun entented )

[nolatom]

If you can't get all the white out despite the good suggestions above, then use some stain, mixed to the color of the wood (mahogany, right?) which will help it blend in, then start in on the varnishing.

[JiffyLube]

What about using a heat gun?

[sailingdog]

There are also some soy-based paint strippers that are pretty good from what I've heard.

[MABON01]

Originally Posted by bestfriend

I hear Easy-Off oven cleaner strips paint better than paint strippers. Haven't tried it myself.

I used "Oven Cleaner" to remove the old name on my boat... It melted off like a hot knife in butter and didnt touch the gel. I also used it to remove the Zebra Mussles that were still attached to my DB after a year out of water. I had just got the boat and the PO had it in all season. BTW, it does a good number on Albative paint as well.....
Who would of thought....

[BarryL]

If you come to my house I will give you a gallon of Franmar Soystrip and a gallon of Interlux paint remover.

They didn't work on my bottom paint, but maybe you'll have a better experience.

I'm on Long Island NY.

Barry