Is paint stripper easy to use?

[lucysmam]

As in idiot proof?

I acquired a wooden box I've wanted for years, last night & brought it home. It's currently outside airing to try and reduce the stored in a cupboard & not been touched smell.

Anyway; now I've had a proper look at it, someone's painted over all the screws, the hinges, the bits where the handle screws onto it 🙄

I was going to sand it but think it'll be hard work without something to give me a head start. So, is paint stripper easy to use? Please don't suggest a heat gun...I'm not good with those 🙈

Nitromors should take the worst of the paint off, but you need to be careful with it because it'll burn you to bits if you get in on your skin. Outdoors, mask up, heavy rubber gloves. Apply it liberally with an old brush, leave it to work, then scrape off with a wallpaper scraper or similar

You might need several applications to get most of the paint off, but it will leave areas where it has penetrated into the grain. It's best to use a heat gun on those areas to soften and draw the paint out a bit. Once the heads of the screws and other fittings are clear you can take them out and soak them in Nitromors to get the remaining paint off, then clean up with a light wire wool and white spirit.

Do you have anywhere that can strip it for you, we had old painted pine doors dipped, sent them away with paint and came back without, then they just needed a light sand and wax polish. Nitromoors is messy, check out if you have a local dipping service .

Festival that might be a better idea. I'll have a google. I suspect it'll be out of my price range though.

I've done a couple of jobs with paintstripper. I wouldn't say it was particularly easy to use or idiot-proof, but it works eventually.

Nitromors is at the vicious end so you'll want to be careful with it. Last time I used a screwfix paintstripper. It wasn't too nasty on the skin, but took a few re-applications and a bit of elbow grease to remove all the paint.

But if it's a small-ish task and you're willing to put some time in then you'll get there eventually? Sorry to not be more encouraging!

And you might need to use a pin or similar to clean out the screw heads properly? Perhaps a toothbrush?