Stripping a cast iron fireplace of paint (photos)

[mimos4]

Inspired by another thread about Peelaway, I'm considering using Peelaway 7 to get rid of the gloss cream paint on this cast iron Edwardian fireplace. As for the wooden bit above the metal fireplace, I think I'll just sand and repaint.

Is that a good idea? Is there a better solution? Have you done something similar and have tips?

We're having new carpet fitted in a few weeks, so I'm keen to do this before that happens.

Thanks in advance!

We used steel brushes and wire wool in large quantities, but as I said our fireplace is very detailed. Imagine a sort of mesh with lots of little blobs. Yours should only really be painful round the leafy bits. The flat parts come away ok.

@OpheliaThrupps thanks for the drill attachment tip. Do they work on all drills? Ours is a Makita.

The black lead metal polish is called Zebo.

Thanks @Callisto1 do you think I should apply it to the wooden part too before repainting, or just sand and repaint?

If you can use it on wood I would probably do it. Sanding can also be faffy and if the paint is old it can contain lead.

We only did part of the metal and left the rest painted because our tiles were an ugly colour that clashed with the room.
I can't remember if we masked the area around the peel away. Maybe could use low tack frogtape? We had to touch up the paint after, but it wasn't a major job. If you have the original paint and if it's not too faded it might be ok to just fix the parts around the fireplace.

Thank you - I'll use some frog tape just in case.
Do you think I'll need to get the drill wire brush or just do it manually?

DH did it all manually because I was pregnant at the time and couldn't really help. He said he'd never do it again

I would protect the walls if possible. Depending what is on the fireplace, the walls can become stained so you would then need to use a strain cover before repainting. Easier to just try to protect them first. I can't stress how much covering, and then layering of paper you need. It takes a lot of water to get the solution off after getting the paint off, and also neutralising.
We've got another to do in a bedroom soon. I'm excited to see what's underneath all the paint. One of ours that we thought was going to be wood turned out to be a beautiful stone. Exciting and so satisfying.

I have a fireplace like that in every room and two of them are white. I think they look really nice like that. Why do you want to change them? It just looks like it will be such a lot of work and expense but would just look as nice as it is anyway.

@AgathaX I'm a bit confused now! I didn't think you were supposed to use water on an iron fireplace? Do I not just pull away the poultice and then scrape or wire wool off the rest? Is there actual washing involved?

[quote mimos4]@OpheliaThrupps thanks for the drill attachment tip. Do they work on all drills? Ours is a Makita. [/quote]
Yes, the wire brushes would work on any drill. They were great on our fireplace to get the last traces of paint out of the grooves. I'd say just buy a set, they only cost a few quid, and if you don't use them for this they're great for getting coffee stains off your teeth

Haha, I'll never have to go to the hygienist again!

they only cost a few quid

Aghhh, sorry, I've just realised how insensitive this remark was - there were people squabbling on another thread about some authoritarian lightbulbs-off regime to save thru'pence ha'penny off their annual lecky bill

You'll need to wash the solution of the fireplace and use the neutraliser. We've used the stuff on fireplaces, skirtings, door architraves and had to do this with all of them. With cast iron though you need to get it dry quickly after, and then treated or painted, whichever you choose.

I've just used Peelaway 7 on wooden banisters. The results are great but the process is so messy.

You put the Peelaway on thickly and cover with the blankets. So far so easy, no mess or smells. Then after several hours you remove the blankets. At this point most of the paste comes off with the blankets but depending on the paint, conditions etc you are left with lots of gunk/tiny flakes of dry paint that you have to wash down with plenty of water plus scrub/scrape off for hours and hours.

I'd use it again for sure but I wasn't prepared for the mess, the whole house is covered in tiny paint fakes and the carpet is ruined (was going to change anyway) and that was with covering everything with plastic dust sheets!

It's definitely worth doing. I did 2 of my son's fireplaces a decade ago and they still look great.
I leaded them with zebo.
Unfortunately Nitromoors has changed it's formula and is now useless, but at that time, it was the business - paint it on and watch the layers of paint bubble up, and scrape them off.

It’d be worth checking out the Bahco carbide scrapers. I’ve got the 625 and it’s amazing. The reviews on Amazon are glowing to say the least!
www.amazon.co.uk/product-reviews/B000288LOW/ref=cm_cr_getr_mb_paging_btm_5?pageNumber=5&reviewerType=all_reviews&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&ie=UTF8

I've just taken bright green gloss off my cast iron fireplace. I used wilko paint stripper. 2 applications and a scrub with a scrubbing brush and it all cane off. A bit messy but we have had a new carpet fitted after. It took a couple of hours

When PPs say use water, do you mean apply a wet scourer and scrub? Or literally hosing the fireplace (surely not)? Do I need to dry it immediately as I go?

No you don't hose it! Just a scourer or sponge to wash. Think we used washing liquid as well before giving one last wash with water. But that is the last step. You have to neutralise it first and remove all the paint residue from the grooves first.

I used Liberon iron paste, look at the amazon reviews for some great examples!

Hello.. I posted a thread a few months ago about stripping several cast iron fireplaces with Peelaway.

Definitely the route I'd recommend, although it is still hard work.. the Peelaway won't take everything off.. I had to drill some really subbirn bits off.

It's really messy too so definitely do it pre flooring/ carpet going down.

We restored two fireplaces and also used the Little House on the Corner guidance.

Peel away very messy but also effective, the wire brush drill head we got from
Wilkinson.. so worth doing one of our fireplaces emerged with beautiful details of flowers and birds which we couldn’t see before.

Don’t put water on a cast iron fireplace… that is the way to get lots of rust!!! Some black grate polish is the way to buff and make them shine.

.