Will paint stripper work on (possibly polyurethane) varnish?

It will on a single pack. Keep methylene chloride base strippers like Nitromors off gelcoat.
 
I am obliged to you both.

I am relaxed about the mess. I am only doing the washboards and the plan is to put them in a heavy duty polybag along with the paint stripper, leave it over night in the back yard then hose it off.

Didn't realize about the gel coat though. You saved me a grand nose-tweak from the admiral!
 
I stripped my washboards last Autumn using Nitromors as a last resort after scraping, sanding etc. had little effect. Even so it took several applications of the noxious chemical along with scraping - hosing wouldn't do it ... I assume that they'd been done with two-pack polyurethane varnish.
 
Paint stripper eats poly bags. Personally would recommend using a hot air gun and scraper if you have access to them - much less mess and they remove single and two-pack varnishes with equal ease.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Paint stripper eats poly bags. Personally would recommend using a hot air gun and scraper if you have access to them - much less mess and they remove single and two-pack varnishes with equal ease.

[/ QUOTE ]

I posted same - but PC locked up and post didn't upload ...

Stripper is horrid stuff and a mess to get rid of, woodwork has to be cleaned of it ... dried ... then sanded etc.

Far better to use Hot AIr Gun and good Skarsten scraper - the type with slide on blade.

I did all cockpit locker doors, hatch, washboards etc. with gun + scraper - just took a day. No caustic / chemical mess to dispose of, wood was dry ready for sanding ...

Honest a good gun will lift any varnish ....

Image000.jpg


Image003.jpg


Image000-1.jpg
 
I'll second the Skarsten type of scraper. (I dont think you can get the genuine article now)

I stripped my exterior woodwork with one last year (a genuine one!) Just that, no hot air needed. You would have to be very careful with ply though.

Reminds me that I "revarnished" it with Sikken's Cetol. Still looks good 1 year on. Will just need a light sanding and a single coat this year.
 
All done!

Nitromoors professional got it all off in about 3 hours. Put it on really thick - popped both washboards into polybag, sealed and left. Bit of scraping needed but nothing awful.

Didn't eat the polybag, BTW. Mind you, it was really heavy thick polybag. Did eat the cling film I put on first - this is a trick I use cleaning the oven to stop the oven cleaner drying out.

Washed and applied teak brightener, washed again and dried. I've oiled them with Danish wood oil, which is really pale and they look the business.

Thanks again for help and advice.
 
Top