Varnish Stripper

[KAM]

Just discovered methylene chloride is now banned from paint stripper and the "new improved" well known brand, which is very expensive, only contains methanol which does not work on my interior single pack varnish. Can anyone recommend an alternative product or source of methylene chloride. I am working on delicate veneered ply so mechanical methods are not an option and I would be worried about using the slow acting water based products for fear of raising the grain and delaminating the veneer.

 

[VicS]

Nitromors original ( dichloromethane based) is replaced by Nitromors "All purpose paint and varnish remover" which does not contain dichloromethane.

It's solvent based, it does contain some methanol (<10%) but the main constituent appears to be 1,3 dioxolane.

 

[KAM]

Whatever is in it does not work anywhere as well as it used to. Just found an ebay site that sells methylene dichloride at £15 for 5 litres. Just also found an excellent wikipedia article on paint strippers. It should be possible to make something up. Comments from any chemists out there appreciated.

 

[VicS]

Its a volatile and hazardous substance.

Google for dichloromethane read what you find

http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/wis19.pdf and other info

I would have thought supplying it was now illegal.

Think about how you are going to safely store what you do not use.

I'd happily buy it it small quantities but not sure I'd want several litres hanging about without appropriate safe handling facilities and suitable storage.

( Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry, by the way)

 

[prv]

Different posts have mentioned "methylene chloride", "methylene dichloride", and "dichloromethane". Are these all the same thing?

Pete

 

[VicS]

yep

 

[SAMYL]

Nitromors original ( dichloromethane based) is replaced by Nitromors "All purpose paint and varnish remover" which does not contain dichloromethane.

It's solvent based, it does contain some methanol (<10%) but the main constituent appears to be 1,3 dioxolane.

And pretty cr*p it is too. It does work but seems to take all day.

 

[KAM]

I think there is a real possibility of damaging the veneers if it is soaked for a long time. With the old nitromors it only took 5 to 10 minutes to get through several coats. It was very gentle on the wood with just a final very gentle scrape over and very light sanding before re varnishing.