Best accessory for removing Paint!

[Finallybuyingaboat]

I came across this drill attachment in the hardware store 2 days ago and figured I would try it. I cannot believe I have not read about this on the forums here. This is going to save me many, many hours on my current rebuild. Yes, you need to be careful as it is extremely abrasive, but it is like using a "Paint Eraser". Figured I would share this with all the other frustrated paint strippers out there.


3M Automotive, Marine & Aerospace : 3Mâ„¢ Rust and Paint Stripper

[jarcher]

Looks interesting, but what does it do to the gel coat?

[poopdeckpappy]

I have one of those, great for removing old varnish from wierd places, I think mine is around 60 grit

[Finallybuyingaboat]

Originally Posted by jarcher

Looks interesting, but what does it do to the gel coat?

I do not think I would use it on the gelcoat, but for the worn off paint on the deck and inside the cabin it is a very useful tool. It would probably destroy gelcoat in a hurry>

[padean]

Originally Posted by poopdeckpappy

I have one of those, great for removing old varnish from wierd places, I think mine is around 60 grit

Does it do much damage to the underlying wood? I have a hard time stripping the varnish of my companionway steps because of the angles steps and treads, and may try it there. Thanks for the suggestion.

[Boasun]

A hard working deck hand is the best thing to have in removing and applying paint. You as the Captain would supervise of course.
Pending on the material that is coated. A pressure washer works real good.

[poopdeckpappy]

Originally Posted by padean

Does it do much damage to the underlying wood? I have a hard time stripping the varnish of my companionway steps because of the angles steps and treads, and may try it there. Thanks for the suggestion.

I haven't found that it does any damage at all to the teak, but like any abrasive, ya need to pay attention, there are different level of abrasions

The one I'm using ( just finished for the day ) is the 3M Scotch-Bright Paint & Varnish Remover # 9413NA the wheel is kinda redish brown in color

[GaryHLucas]

Originally Posted by Finallybuyingaboat

I came across this drill attachment in the hardware store 2 days ago and figured I would try it. I cannot believe I have not read about this on the forums here. This is going to save me many, many hours on my current rebuild. Yes, you need to be careful as it is extremely abrasive, but it is like using a "Paint Eraser". Figured I would share this with all the other frustrated paint strippers out there.


3M Automotive, Marine & Aerospace : 3Mâ„¢ Rust and Paint Stripper

I've tried one and I was not all that impressed. Which led me to inventing a paint scraper for taking off bottom paint. I removed 20 years worth of bottom paint from my Catalina 22 in an afternoon by myself! I patented it a few years ago, lost my job and couldn't afford the renewal on the patent so I lost my patent rights, it's now in the public domain so anyone could manufacture and sell it. If you search my name in the PTO you'll find it. I made 5 of samples for testing, I have one left. If anyone is contemplating stripping a boat bottom I could arrange to lend it to you.

It works by simple leverage. It has a long handle and a telescopic leg. You push down on the handle and the scraper pushes up against the bottom, then you pull it towards you. The bottom paint is friable, it shatters if you put on enough pressure, and it just kind of explodes off the bottom in big pieces, no fine dust. Yes you can scrape the gelcoat too. However, unlike the sander where you realize you are cutting too deep when it is gone, the scraper shows white scrapings that are obvious against
the dark bottom paint.

[GaryHLucas]

Originally Posted by padean

Does it do much damage to the underlying wood? I have a hard time stripping the varnish of my companionway steps because of the angles steps and treads, and may try it there. Thanks for the suggestion.

Have you ever tried a push scraper? I was over visiting a freind who refinishes old furniture. He was scraping paint and varnish off an old desk, and didn't want to use stripper because it attacks the glue joints too. I asked him if he had an old flat file. I took it in his shop and ground away the grooves on one side at the end of the file. I then ground the end of the file square to that surface. I honed it a little with a stone. You just push it across the surface at a low angle. It has little tendency to dig in and gouge, and is very controlable. It also goes right into tight corners easily. He was really amazed by how well it worked. By the way, it works really good scraping rust off of large flat surfaces too.

Push scrapers are used by machinists who scrape the ways and mating surfaces on machine tools to extremely close tolerances. I have a carbide one about 20" long with a big ball on the handle. You can put your whole body into it when scraping metal.