We recommend the following:
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A paint brush with the
bristles cut short to about 3/8" to !/2". This is very useful in getting
down into the crevices, carved areas, and the grain of open grained woods.
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A plastic scraper or Bondo
spreader. Find one that is flexible that will not gouge the wood and will
allow you to use the corners to get down into groves.
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Disposable plastic gloves.
Even though the stripper does not burn the skin, it is still wise to wear
gloves. Also, the finish that you are removing can stain your hands.
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Scotch Brite Pads - these are
the regular green pads that you can get at the grocery store, hardware
store, or even Costco. Make sure that you don't get the ones with a sponge
on one side or the kind that has a soap embedded.
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Rolls of shop paper towels or
absorbent rags, plastic trash bags or drop cloths to place under the item
you are stripping. Test the plastic with some stripper to make sure it
won't dissolve if you spill.
The Product
Shake the E-Z Way Stripper
container and using a funnel pour into the spray bottle. Shake the spray
bottle occasionally while you are spraying to make sure the stripper is
blended. NOTE: Using the spray bottle will save approximately 40% of
the stripper when compared to other methods of application.
The Method of
Application
Spray or brush on enough of
the stripper to saturate a manageable area. The most important thing to
remember is to keep it wet with the stripper. Don't let it dry and then
re-wet but stay with the project until the stripper has totally saturated
the finish.
If you are removing varnish,
which softens quickly, don't spray too large an area before removing the
softened finish. Some paints will take no longer than varnish to remove,
but most paints are applied in several layers and require patience in
removing. Keep the painted surface wet until it softens all the way to the
wood. If you are using the semi-paste stripper you will find it softens
with little attention. Spray the coating and let it soften all the way to
the wood and all layers will come off together. Reapply the stripper after
you take off the coating to remove any residual and make sure the wood is
clear of all of the paint, varnish, or other coating.
A technique that will help in
paint removal is to apply a heavy coat of stripper, cover it with a poly
plastic, (a trash bag or plastic wrap), to reduce evaporation. Wait about
7 minutes to check and continue to check every 7 minutes until the coating
is completely softened. Remove and wash with stripper to remove any
residual.
Temperature will affect the
time it takes to penetrate the finish. 70 degrees is the ideal
temperature. Take the time to determine the type of finish you are working
with from the paragraph on finishes.
Remember, KEEP IT WET with E-Z
Way Stripper until ready to come off. For stubborn finishes, such as Spar
Varnish, try "scrubbing" with the scotch Brite pad after the first minute
or so, then repeat applications of E-Z Way Stripper as necessary
The Removal
Test the surface with you
fingertip or the corner of the plastic scraper. Is the coating completely
softened? If not, saturate again and wait. Don't forget, Patience Is A
Virtue. For clear finishes, varnishes, etc. use a cutoff paint brush
or Scotch Brite pad to loosen the finish, then remove the softened finish
with shop paper towels or absorbent rags. For heavy finishes use a plastic
scraper to lift the softened finish from the surface, then continue with
the directions for removing clear finishes. When removing paint, lift the
softened paint up or away from the surface, being careful not to smear
paint into the grain of the wood. When situations require removal of paint
from open-grain wood, keep the surface wet with stripper and scrub it with
a stiff brush to remove.
Wet a soft cloth with Regent's
E-Z Way Stripper and wipe the surface again. Dry the surface with a clean
cloth. The stripped surface dries in a few minutes requiring no
water-washing or neutralizing because Regent's E-Z Way Stripper has
100% evaporation. The surface is now ready for a new finish. The
importance of not needing a water wash, like many other strippers do, is
that water can raise the grain of the wood (make it fuzzy) which then
requires sanding which will damage the patina, (natural aging of the
wood), reducing the value of an antique.
What about Stain?
80% of the items that you will
restore will have the color in the finish, and the color will be removed
when you strip. Regent's E-Z Way Stripper is designed to remove the finish
so of the item is stained the stripper will not attack the stain. In most
cases, the item will be lighter after the finish is removed, as the finish
darkens with age even if it was a clear coat when applied. This is great
if you wanted a lighter finish, but if not, here are some alternatives. With
all of them we suggest that you do a test in a small inconspicuous area to
determine how it will affect the item. If you are working with an antique,
remember the patina, (the natural aging of the wood), as damage to the
patina will reduce the value of the item. Also, if you are working with an
item that is veneered, (a thin layer of expensive wood over a cheaper
wood), you can damage it beyond repair with heavy sanding.
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SCRUBBING - For scrubbing use
a Scotch Brite pad if you are going to lighten the wood. You can get the
pads at a hardware or paint store. The green pad is equal to a #00 grade
steel wool and the grey one like a #2 grade steel wool so the grey one
will take less effort. Take the pad, wet with stripper, and scrub the
wood, always working with the grain. Working the stripper and pad like you
would if you were sanding will pull the stain to the surface. With a rag
or paper towel wipe off the surface while it is still wet. Repeat the
process until you are satisfied with the color. Sometimes, depending on the
type of wood you are working with, it is impossible to remove all the
stain by any method and you are better off to accept the color or enhance
it.
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BLEACHING - Professionals will sometimes apply bleach to wood. This can be
somewhat tricky, but experimenters have found that it is better to mix 1
part bleach to 3 parts stripper, rather than using full strength bleach.
Apply this mixture to the surface for 2-3 minutes and then scrub with the
Scotch Brite pad to lighten the stain. Caution, if you bleach, use gloves
and wipe the wood down right away with clean stripper. Once again, be sure
and do a test before you use bleach.
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SANDING
- There are some projects where you cannot get away from sanding. This
would occur when the surface is damaged and scrubbing or bleaching will
not correct the problem. Sand with the grain, preferable with a power
sander, If the wood is in bad shape use a medium sandpaper
with a grade of 100 to 150. If the surface is smooth, but you can see some
scratches, or as the next step to the medium sanding you completed, use
180 or 220 grade paper. Finally, use a fine grade 280 and sand with the
grain in long even strokes. If you are going to stain you should finish
with a very fine paper, 320 to 360 grade.
How Long Should The
Stripper Take?
Varnish:
Dissolves in 15 to 20 seconds per coat. Heavy old varnish usually takes 2
to 3 Minutes.
Lacquer:
15 to 20 seconds per layer. Antiques may
have 10 to 20 coats or more. As the stripper is applied it will become
very gummy. If the finish is heavy you may have to spray 3 to 5 times to
keep it wet, but it should only take 5 to 7 minutes to dissolve all of the
layers. Remove the thick gum with a plastic bondo spreader, and wash the
wood down with more stripper.
Shellac:
Same as varnish, but sometimes needs a
little help with a Scotch Brite scrubber.
Polyurethanes:
Most are applied in several
layers, and will require 30 seconds to 5 minutes per layer to dissolve.
They bubble up like paint. Keep it wet until the stripper dissolves all of
the layers.
Varathenes: This coating is a poly, but it
takes longer to remove, usually 10 minutes per layer. Keep it wet and
covered with plastic for more efficiency or use the semi-paste stripper.
Remember most coatings are applied in several coats so may take 30 minutes
or more to soften completely.
Spar Varnish: Usually used on boats for water
resistance. Spray the striper on, wait 2 minutes, dip a green Scotch Brite
pad in the stripper, and scrub the surface. Spray again and cover with
plastic wrap. It will blister like paint.
Latex Paint: Flat latex does not bubble. It
dissolves in 30 seconds or less. Latex enamel takes about 3 minutes
per coat and bubbles.
Oil Base and Acrylics: Usually take 3 to 5
minutes per coat. Keep covered with plastic or use E-Z Way Regent's
Semi-Paste Stripper. Many times there are several coats of paint so it is
hard to know how long it will take. Give it time, keep it wet and be
patient.
Lead-Based Paints: there are a wide range of
these paints and they can take 3 to 10 minutes per coat. Spray it on and
keep it wet, cover it with plastic or use semi-paste stripper. It is very
important to use gloves to protect yourself from the lead in the paint.
Antiquing: This is a finish that can be
removed with Regent's E-Z Way Stripper, following the same instructions as
above for oil based paint.
Buttermilk Paint: This is a paint that seems
to be impossible for most removers. Regent's E-Z Way Semi-Paste Stripper
will remove it. We recommend that you saturate the buttermilk paint with
the Regent's Semi-Paste Stripper and cover it with a plastic wrap. Because
of the difficulty in determining the number of layers of paint, be
prepared to wait a minimum of 30 minutes per layer. Most pieces have
several layers of paint.
Marine, Auto, Aviation Finishes:
Aviation finishes take no more time to remove than
lead-based paints. Imron, for instance, takes approximately 4 minutes per
coat to remove. Plexiglas and rubber beading should be covered, as it can
be damaged. The stripper is non-corrosive and does not damage the gel coat
in fiberglass or loosen Bondo. after you have removed the paint, you can
remove the primer, if desired. to remove the primer, simply spray the thin
stripper on, and with a stiff brush, scrub, and wipe clean.
Kitchen
Cabinets
If you
will follow the method described below, you will save a tremendous amount
of time and make it an easier job. Make a dip container to submerge your
doors and drawers in. Because Regent's E-Z Stripper does not have
Methylene Chloride in it, you can use poly-plastic for your stripper
container. Do not use the new biodegradable garbage bags, but the regular
poly bag. Get a box that you can place the largest door in. In other
words, it will lay flat in the bottom of the box. Next cut the sides of
the box off so that you have about 4" sides. Place the box inside the
plastic bag, and press the plastic bag down inside the box to create a
plastic-lined strip pan. Pour enough stripper in the plastic-lined strip
pan so that when your cabinet door is placed in it, it is totally
submerged. Make another box like this one, but not as large, which can be
used to stand the door up in, while you remove the melted finish. Using a
plastic scraper, Scotch Brite pad, or sometimes just a rag or paper towel,
wet with stripper, wash the finish into this pan. When it is clean, put
the door or drawer aside to dry. dirty stripper in the strip pan can be
strained for reuse by pouring through cheesecloth or a strainer. Use
Regent's E-Z Way Semi-Paste Stripper on the vertical surfaces or
framework. Be sure and cover your floor and counter tops, as the stripper
could affect these. It's best to take a poly garbage bag, cut open, use
masking tape (not scotch tape) to tape the bag to the floor and countertop
as a drop cloth. After you have removed the finish, wipe the stripped
surface with a rag wet with the regular stripper. Just a note: Because
Regent's E-Z Way Stripper is non-corrosive, it is not necessary to remove
the hinges.
Wood Floors
Spray an area about 3' by 3'. When finish is soft,
scrub with a stiff brush, preferably on the end of a pole. Wipe clean with
a rag or shop paper towels.
Other Uses
Graffiti remover, degreaser, cleaning pitch from saw
blades and tools, removing lacquer from brass, mastic from under Formica,
tile floors, and shower stalls, acrylic and epoxy paint from tubs and
showers.
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THE E-Z WAY RESTORATION BOOK
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just need to click on the file.
You can then read it on
line or even print it out.
Regents E-Z Way Paint &
