Looking for DIY espert..... Help!

[pupuce]

It may be you or your DH/DP.....
I have just started stripping off the thick layer of paint from my wooden porch (outside). I am currently using a scraper top get the obvious chips of paint but what do I do when that's done ? There will still be loads of paint to remove (I reckon).... some of the wood at the bottom isn't looking great. In some places I can replace it but in others I don't think I will... can I cheat and fill it with something then paint over ?
help...

Use a paint remover and then sand down.

you can buy a proper wood filler from a hardware shop, if you have any sawdust in the same colour, mix it with that and then fill it with that. if not, just fill it then varnish/paint over it

are you planning on stripping it down to the bare wood ?

Boudicca - yes - well it's easily coming off ! But not everywhere of course....

Is Paint remover easy to use?

I use a hot air gun. then when this is all off, I use nitromors with wire wool and rub it into the wood to remove the rest. Then I sand it down with grit100 sandpaper. Then I fill all the bits that are empty with a wood filler. Let set and sand down again. Then use an undercoat (you can get 2in1's now) and when dry gloss, sand down to key and gloss again

hows the sunbathing going btw?

Fio2 you're welcome at my house any day !!(lots &lots of DIYing to do,but can't get off the MN site !

its okay I have plenty of DIY to do myself

careful with a hot air gun near glass... also you have to watch that the wood doesn't catch alight. Nitromors is probably the best option. Leave it to soak till the paint bubbles, then scrape off and sand down. Wear gloves.

You can only fill so much. If there are bits that really are rotten you will have to get a chippie to come and patch it up for you.

see nitromors doesnt agree with me unless I strip the rest off first..dunno why

What's the purpose of the hot air gun - asks a really unclued up Pupuce - wearing proper clothes now - not bikini anymore
Can you find Nitromors at Homebase or B&Q... do you need a lot?
Jan - no glass near the porch.

Gosh I am impressed with the knowledge !!!

the hot air gun just removes all the paint. Maybe dont use one if you are really too worried about it!:0:0 (I am laughing to myself here!)

yes you can get mitromors from b&q, i got mine from woolworths of all places!

oops wrong smilies

How old is your porch? It may be possible that the older layers of paint are lead based, in which case you really should wear a proper "gas mask" if you use a heat gun or a dust mask if you sand down as the lead can be inhaled. I don't think it's an issue with the nitromorse. We stripped a lot of wood in our house and most of it was done with a blow torch (you can buy them for not too much money and they run off a gas canister).

Actually, even if lead-based, you can use a heat gun at a very low setting to soften the paint up and then scrape off. This can be the safest option. If you melt the paint you vaporise the lead, though (BAD).
If it does have lead in it, ideally you also wear disposable clothes (can buy disp. overalls in B+Q), as well as ground sheets which you throw away after the stripping. And use a HEPA+ rated hoover afterwards to clean up.
Wish I didn't know so much about old lead paint, although it's not the terrible problem in UK it is in USA.

DIY shops sell little kits for testing whether you have lead-based paint, but they only give a 'yes'-'no' picture.... County public laboratories will also test samples of dust, paint chips, carpet backing, whatever, for lead content, for a fee (not that expensive). And write an opinion on how bad it is, relatively. In the US you can pay people to come to your house and do thorough assessments of how bad the lead contamination is in situ, but (when I checked 4 years ago), nobody in the UK seems to offer the same service.

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Thanks guys.... I've started actually.
I dio know about lead paint.... wondered when did people stop using it ? My porch is about 30 years old I have no idea when it was last painted....
I can tell you this I am using Nitromors and have followed instructions.... dab on with paint brush... wait 5 mins, add 1 coat and wait 20 mins... strip off.... well that takes 1 coat away.... should I leave the product on for longer ? I have done 2 patches and on one of those I have already had to do a 2nd series of the 2 coats.... this is going to be a BIG job !
Any tips on how to best use this product ?

I am wearing long clothes, PVC gloves, glasses and a mask. Kids are away. Floor is covered with stuff but it's a bit windy so it's not "just" on the floor cover.

This is all outdoor BTW.

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Any tips on how to best use this product ?

A bit late as you have started, but If the paint is thick and the porch not too intricate I would recomended a sharp chissel/razorblade/sandpaper. The trouble with nitomors is that you can lose your way a little unless expereienced (or a women..) and its very dodgy stuff, make sure you have glass's on.
With the scrape/chip/sand method the finial result can be great and its quite satisfying(?) If more than 50% of the wood is rotten it will need to be replaced. If less, remove rotten, treat whats left with Cupronel 5* and fill.

If the portch is 30 years assume the lower layers at least will contain lead, so if scraping use a mask.

Thanks Yamamoto.... I am now on my 3rd layer...... yes chisel has been used but you have to be careful not to get into the wood.... and sometimes you do......
Also it's not all flat.... actually in some places it's quite groovy.... what shall I do there ?
Would a hot air gun work better ?
I AM using a mask!
Thanks

OK, use the chissel as a scrapper, not a chissel. Loads of pressure and very controlled scrapes. Chissel must be SHARP. Do all the flat bits first. Now find something metal with the same or smaller contour than groove, could be nail file, butter knife, your OWN razor etc and finish job off. If theres some bits with loadsa detail, use the dreaded nitro.

If you use hot air gun you will still have to scrape off, you may end up using a bit of everything...

Groovy porch ehh! Dont forget your builders radio!

I will start again with chisel tomorrow. How do you sharpen it ? Can I use my knife stone?
Any other tip????

Knife stine will be fine, turn the chissel upside down and work up and down, try to keep the angle constant.

Good luck!

My tip is to call someone in to do it for you! Sounds like a nightmare job .

I once hand stripped all the wood in DS1s nursery and it was a right pain. I did find a fab stripper from B&Q that came in powder form like polyfiller. You mixed it up, trowelled it onto the paint, covered it with plastic and left it for a few hours to do its work. Then you peeled it (and most of the many layers of paint) off.

Souppy does the surface has to be horizontal for that? I am doing walls..... would ikt work ?
I am struggling but WILL persevere.... no way am I going on DIY SOS

It worked on the door, door frame and skirting boards. It mixes to the consistency of polyfiller so sticks to vertical surfaces. You do still have some work to do on the last remaining thin layer of yucky paint.