Best Varnish Stripper?

Cloven

Cloven

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Used to use Nitromors and it was great but last time I bought some Nitromors Paint & Varnish remover labelled "New Double Strength Formula" it just did not work like the old stuff, in fact I gave up.

Have they done something to it and if so, is there something better out there?

Thanks for any replies
 
Yes, I had heard last year that EU had banned the old active ingredient in Nitromors (I think it was methylene chloride). I'd have stocked up if I'd known as it's a given that you'd probably be able to gargle with any eco-friendly replacement, let alone get it to shift paint or varnish.

I haven't had to strip any varnish using the new version but not surprised it doesn't seem to work. I wonder if anyone has tried anything slightly odd that EU haven't managed to get around to banning (e.g. some types of brake fluid etc.). Caustic soda solution is excellent for paint removal but you need to be careful not to get any near your eyes and also use gloves (but old Nitromors was just as dangerous).

UPDATE: I did a quick search to see if any product looked as if they might still contain a decent active ingredient. I found that Starchem Synstryp Paint Stripper says it contains "Dichloromethane and Phenol". Dichloromethane is methylene chloride and so that should work as well as Nitromors.

I wonder why that hasn't been banned (professional use only?? or some other wierd exemption). It seems to be available on Amazon & eBay in 5 litre tins. If anyone else can confirm that it works well then I might stock up before it too is banned.
 
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I know that methylene chloride is nasty stuff but have used it from time to to over many years. Adequate ventilation is the key and so I always used it in open air with good air flow.

I found this link: http://www.paintsquare.com/news/?fuseaction=view&id=7328

So it was banned for use by consumers on 6th June 2012. Industrial or professional use (with limitations) is still allowed and that's probably why you can get hold of products such as Starchem Synstryp. No idea what's in the "new improved, extra double strength, super action" Nitromors. Perhaps a fair bit of water? :D
 
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Dave I don't know where you are n Scotland..but if you are anywhere in the Glasgow area ,go to Smith and Rodger in Elliot Street,just off Finnieston Street and you can either get some Paramose Paint stripper or their own branded stripper which is much the same stuff. It's about £20 ish for 5 litres
Nitromors changed the formula some time ago due to H&S concerns or somesuch nonsense and it does not contain methylene Dichloride whch was the active ingredient .
I posted about this recently in response to a thread on this subject.
NITROMORS is Useless...and overpriced.

Dunno about gargling with it though!!!!
 
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I became suspicious when I noticed that the last can of stripper I bought from Toolstation loudly announced that it was 'Methylene Chloride Free'. Sure enough, it now takes two applications over many hours to achieve (nearly) the same effect as one application and 10 minutes previously. I will search for the alternatives suggested!
 
jamesmar said:
Dave I don't know where you are n Scotland..but if you are anywhere in the Glasgow area ,go to Smith and Rodger in Elliot Street,just off Finnieston Street and you can either get some Paramose Paint stripper or their own branded stripper which is much the same stuff. It's about £20 ish for 5 litres
Nitromors changed the formula some time ago due to H&S concerns or somesuch nonsense and it does not contain methylene Dichloride whch was the active ingredient .
I posted about this recently in response to a thread on this subject.
NITROMORS is Useless...and overpriced.

Dunno about gargling with it though!!!!
Click to expand...

Good tip, I'll get some of their own brand next time I'm in Glasgow. It will be much better than "new improved, super strength, ultra performance etc." Nitromors.

I've just returned to Scotland and that trip might be sooner than I thought. The 6-7 month pile of mail contains a letter about a "product improvement" for my car so I'll be visiting the dealer. I checked on web and the "improvement" is either due to the fact that some rear spoilers were falling off or that brakes sometimes didn't work very well. I'd call that a "recall" not a "product improvement" but manufacturers prefer the latter. I suppose that's why OP's Nitromors said "New Double Strength Formula" for stuff that is nothing like as effective as the original formulation. Double the strength of what exactly?.
 
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Relative to the performance of the first attempt at a methylene chloride free (completely useless) formulation of course...
 
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