Stripping Paint ?

[jaizan]

My steel garage door needs repainting. However, I'm sure I'll need to remove the old paint, as some of it is flaking off. There is no corrosion.

My first choice would be to brush on paint stripper, leave it then wipe the mess off. However, I note that the active ingredient in traditional paint stripper is banned and there are reports of new paint strippers not being very good.

So what should I use ?
1 Modern paint strippers, which get very "mixed" reviews
2 Obtain some of the traditional paint stripper, which is apparently on sale for professional use. I only need to do the outside of the door, which is obviously well ventilated
3 Hot air gun
4 Wire brush on angle grinder. I don't fancy that. It's probably going to be awkward with the profile on the door as well.

Any other ideas ?

[ReformedCharacter]

My steel garage door needs repainting. However, I'm sure I'll need to remove the old paint, as some of it is flaking off. There is no corrosion.

My first choice would be to brush on paint stripper, leave it then wipe the mess off. However, I note that the active ingredient in traditional paint stripper is banned and there are reports of new paint strippers not being very good.

So what should I use ?
1 Modern paint strippers, which get very "mixed" reviews
2 Obtain some of the traditional paint stripper, which is apparently on sale for professional use. I only need to do the outside of the door, which is obviously well ventilated
3 Hot air gun
4 Wire brush on angle grinder. I don't fancy that. It's probably going to be awkward with the profile on the door as well.

Any other ideas ?

I wouldn't rule out one of the modern paint strippers, I've used them to remove multiple layers of gloss paint and it worked OK, albeit not like the old Nitromors. It's probably worth buying a small amount and seeing how you get on with it for your particular paint.

RC

[Lootman]

So what should I use ?
1 Modern paint strippers, which get very "mixed" reviews
2 Obtain some of the traditional paint stripper, which is apparently on sale for professional use. I only need to do the outside of the door, which is obviously well ventilated
3 Hot air gun
4 Wire brush on angle grinder. I don't fancy that. It's probably going to be awkward with the profile on the door as well.

Any other ideas ?

I take it that the old-school flame thrower type paint removers are now illegal, and that the use of them is considered worse than child molestation?

Too bad because they actually worked.

[Urbandreamer]

I would seriously question if stripping the paint is needed. Loose stuff can be removed with a wire brush (powered if needed). Stuff that refuses to be mechanically removed is STUCK so not a problem. Abrasive (sand) paper can blend the edges. Such abrasive paper can be fine enough to polish metal, so you can get a good result. I have grades from 100 to 2000, don't bother with anything with a higher number than 600 for this job (250 would be the highest I'd use).

If you REALLY MUST strip the paint then Lootman's idea works well for metal.

[Bminusrob]

I've had quite a lot of success with https://www.ecosolutions.co.uk/homestrip-paint-remover/. It is water based, but does a good job of removing multiple layers of gloss.

They also do a product which removes Artex which works very well, but is very messy to use.

[Dicky99]

I don't think the like of nitromers or water based equivalent is very appropriate for a large area the size of a garage door. You'll really regret having ever started that task if you find it's got many old layers and you're only managing to remove one layer per application. It's also unpleasant stuff to work with.
My vote is along the lines Urbandreamer's suggestion. Get a dust mask on and get at it with a mouse sander and a couple of progressively finer grits. Less layers to reapply as well compared to taking it back to bare metal.

[kempiejon]

Flap disc on angle grinder? I have used it on metal to remove paint, grime and rust, can be quite delicate.

[jaizan]

Thank you for the advice.
I'm fairly sure my garage door has one layer of paint, as some of it has flaked off & it looks thin. I presume it's the original garage door and paint from when the house was built, in 1980. There is enough cracking of the paint for me to think I should remove it or at least do some surface preparation.

It appears to be galvanized underneath, so I don't want anything that's aggressive enough to remove that.

[88V8]

It appears to be galvanized underneath, so I don't want anything that's aggressive enough to remove that.

Peelaway stripper is OK, not brilliant as the good stuff has been banned of course.

Galvanised... when new, galvanise needs a special primer, absent which the paint will debond, perhaps the origin of your problem.
If you plan to stay in the house, as you say the paint needs to come off.
If you are doing a tart-up to sell, just sand off the flaking paint and apply some Zinsser Peel Stop.

V8

[Urbandreamer]

It appears to be galvanized underneath, so I don't want anything that's aggressive enough to remove that.

Don't use the blow torch then. The fumes would be toxic.
https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/81-123/p ... SHPUB81123

[Dicky99]

Bare galvanised metal will require an etching primer

[BullDog]

Brake fluid?

[Dicky99]

Brake fluid?

Is that a known effective hack because I think etching primer may be pricey?

[BullDog]

Brake fluid?

Is that a known effective hack because I think etching primer may be pricey?

It won't touch the galvanizing but it might just soften the paint enough to scrape it off.

[jaizan]

Galvanised... when new, galvanise needs a special primer, absent which the paint will debond, perhaps the origin of your problem

I strongly suspect the garage door is original, which means the paint has done 43 years, on a south facing door as well. Those 43 years might be the origin of my problem. I've certainly not touched it in my 18 years here.
The galvanizing is a far darker colour than I'm used to, but it still has the same distinctive pattern as galvanizing.

Brake fluid?

An interesting idea. I have some old brake fluid, so might try this on a test area.

I may sell up and move within ~5 years, so any tart up job needs to last a little while.

[Grumpsimus]

I am surprised that no one has suggested a hot air gun. These work really well on galvanised metal.

I used one on a metal garage door a couple of years ago, once the paint is hot enough it comes off really easily with a scraper. Why mess about with chemicals.

[servodude]

I am surprised that no one has suggested a hot air gun. These work really well on galvanised metal.

I used one on a metal garage door a couple of years ago, once the paint is hot enough it comes off really easily with a scraper. Why mess about with chemicals.

Certainly worth a try on metal

Depending on the age of the paint I might need more careful regards lead doing it that way

[jaizan]

I used one on a metal garage door a couple of years ago, once the paint is hot enough it comes off really easily with a scraper. Why mess about with chemicals.

1 I'm looking for the easiest possible solution. On the one hand, I will tackle major DIY projects, but on the other, I hate anything which involves paint stripping.

2 My garage door has recessed ridges, about 1.5cm wide. I'll need to fiddle around with a chisel or wire brush in there.

[Mike4]

Surely a new garage door would cost not a great deal more than the sum of the various tins of paint, primer, tools etc you're going to need.

Maybe someone else has already suggested this!

[staffordian]

Surely a new garage door would cost not a great deal more than the sum of the various tins of paint, primer, tools etc you're going to need.

Maybe someone else has already suggested this!

I was going to but never got round to it