Stripping Varnish

[pissativlypossed]

I am over from the "Dark Side" but did not think it worth asking this question over there.
The mahogany cappings on the hull are in need of a little tender loving care, having gone dull and cracked in a couple of places. I have tried to strip the old varnish of using "Colron"
paint and varnish stripper, but it has not touched it despite rubbing with wire wool. Any ideas as what to use?

 

[npf1]

Nitromors. I did 100+ ft of toerail last year, each with 10 coats of varnish, and this was the last stuff I used but shoudl have been the first. Very easy - just follwed the intructions on the tin but made sure every near was covered before starting.

 

[Lakesailor]

Nitromors damages GRP gelcoat. Beware.

Hot air gun on a low setting is the safest and quickest way if you have power available.

 

[NealB]

Suggest you don\'t use wire wool....

tends to leave fragments on the wood, which go rusty.

 

[Alfie168]

Re: Suggest you don\'t use wire wool....

Seconded about the wire wool...how foolish was I, but this was on GRP and I'm still finding the occasional little rusty flecks to polish out over a year later. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif Avoid using it.

Use a heat gun on cool, otherwise you can mark the wood...and i'm not telling you how I know, but its a long time ago and I was very young and impetous and in too much of a hurry.

Tim

 

[Poignard]

I find a very sharp, repeat very sharp, scraper does the job well.

No expensive chemicals and associated mess. No electricity needed. No noise.

 

[ebbtide]

Nitromors easy-peasy. But don't use gloss varnish again!
Sikkens satin finish is so much better: easy to apply in all weathers, and looks good on teak, iroko and mahogany.

 

[homa]

I would secont the scraper - a sharp one too.
Leaves a very smooth finish with minimal sanding required before re-applying varnish.

 

[Pasarell]

Any chemical stripper containing methylene chloride will damage the gelcoat (and laminate) as Lakesailor says. Generally this means all VOC solvent based strippers. Most water based ones are methylene chloride free, including Nitromors. Not sure how good they are on varnish though as I've never tried.

 

[LittleShip]

Varnish is a pain if you do have to remove it completely.

I seem to use this tool more than I should but it does get the varnish (and anything else stuck to the wood) off quickly and easily! just be careful.

www.gelplane.co.uk/proscraper/product.asp

I have also tried the Scarsten scrapers, but they aren't as good as the proscraper

[thinks] I must get shares in this company, they must be making a fortune out of my recommendations[/think off]

 

[Poignard]

[ QUOTE ]
I have also tried the Scarsten scrapers,

[/ QUOTE ]

Psst! Got any unused Skarsten blades you want rid of?

 

[Amulet]

Re: Suggest you don\'t use wire wool....

Use the plastic "wire wool". Effectively like green kitchen scouring pads. Buy it in umpteen grades of abrasiveness from the Axminster Power Tool Centre, or cheap and cheerful from screwfix. Not sure it'll get your varnish off, but it'll do as well as wire wool but without the rust. Oh, but nitromors will probably eat it - never tried.