Stripping paint to bare wood.

Seagreen

Seagreen

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So here's my next winter project. I've given up on any real thoughts of painting the topsides, but I think I'll need to strip the topsides to bare wood for a repaint.

Now, considering that I'm a dab hand with scraper and hot air gun, what better ways are there of stripping layers of enamel off a hull? Nice old wood so nothing too aggressive. Speed and efficiency needed so are there mechanical devices worth trying?
 
The only sander worth having is a decent random orbital job, do not be conned into buying one with velcro discs they cost a fortune to run.
I use a Sealey ER150 it is now 14 years old & still going strong it has a soft feather edge pad & uses stick on discs from car trade suppliers. With 40 grit it will strip paint & fair, with 80 grit it will rough sand timber or paintwork, with 240 grit it leaves a lovely smooth finish ready for paint or varnish with no swirl marks.
 
I have tried all the various sanders and the old hair drier and scraper still wins for me. I find that paint is easier than varnish as the bubbling lets you know when to scrape.
 
Having just burnt out yet another cheap B&Q sander, I'm inclined to agree with you. Currently giving a very cheap Tesco sander a destruction test. I may well invest in a nice one for next year.

But it is a lot of scraping...

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To strip the paint quicker than a hot air gun, use a propane or parrafin (for 'fun') blow lamp. Muck quicker, and with practice you won't scorch the wood at all.

To sand up the Random orbital (or D/A - Dual action) wins hands down. We se the Bosch 150 ACE. They are good but we get through one a year. If you have just the one boat it should last you at least 20 years plus. We do use velcro discs, the 150mm dia. At about £14 for 50 they are cheap enough. You can't get them from B&Q, but they don't stock much of use anyway! The Bosch is about £150 now, used to be £200 plus, 10 years ago.
The smaller 125 r/orbs are hopless compared to the bigger 150 Bosch. Its like jumping out of a Fiat and thgen driving an Aston !!
 
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