Stripping paint from epoxy coated hull

[ddeaton]

So, heat will soften the epoxy layer. Which chemical strippers will remove the paint layers without damaging the epoxy? West System to be specific.
Thanks,
Danny

[Richard Smith]

Well . . . my guess is that the silence is the answer. Personally, I can't think of anything other than mechanical means that will remove the paint and leave the epoxy untouched.

You might try (read descriptions for) the Peel-Away products to see if any are formulated for such an application.

[ 09-21-2005, 01:00 PM: Message edited by: Richard Smith ]

[Richard Smith]

[ 09-21-2005, 12:59 PM: Message edited by: Richard Smith ]

[Todd Bradshaw]

If anybody would know for certain, it would be the tech guys at Gougeon Brothers. Considering what a mess a boat covered with partially melted resin would be, it's probably worth a phone call.

[chergui]

I would sand it. Any paint stripper I've used strips the epoxy also.

Jon

[Thad Van Gilder]

I don't think any method would work other than sanding.

-Thad

[Dan McCosh]

Heat softens epoxy about as fast as it softens paint. Most paint removers will attack epoxy, although generally not as well as they remove paint. The result in either case is something of a mess. Why strip the paint to begin with? Usually, a sanding job is a good way to prep for refinishing. If the surface is smooth, the remaining paint gives a start to an undercoat anyway.

[ssor]

There is a long list of chemicals that epoxy is resistant to including sodium hydroxide, the principle component in peel away. I used several gallons of peel-away to strip the old bottom paint fron the polyester resin gelcoat on Bietzpadlin before I applied about four coats of epoxy barrier paint and then the new bottom paint. Just suit-up and follow the directions on the label and be generous with the thickness of the applied coating and the time.

[ddeaton]

Removing of the old paint is a have to. Paint is cracking and in some spots peeling like old house paint. She hasnt even been in the water yet. Leaving it would just be asking for trouble later, sanding all of it would be too labor intensive. I talked with the tech guys at West System today, and they told me that strippers would work fine if used in small areas and dont leave it on long. It would eventually react with the epoxy if left on for a while. Sounds like some trials are in order.

[chergui]

Be careful then.. I was painting the interior of my boat and used a paint stripper on non-epoxied surfaces. When I scraped the paint off, the paint and epoxy sludge fell down onto an epoxied part of the boat. It ate away some of the epoxy in a fairly short period of time. The odd gob of pure paint stripper also fell down and did eat through a layer of epoxy to bare wood in a few minutes. Even wiping it up immediatley left a smeared blotchy spot. I will be recoating those spots this winter. My epoxy is West also but the stripper I used ate it up quite well. I won't use a paint stripper anywhere near my boat again. You might be able to do it by applying it to a small area, scraping it off, cleaning and wiping it down, and then moving onto the next area. But it seems like a haphazard way of doing it to me, and I think would actually be slower than a scraper and an orbit sander. I think you will more likely ruin parts of the surface using a stripper. Well, I wouldn't do it to my boat anyway.


Originally posted by ddeaton:
Removing of the old paint is a have to. Paint is cracking and in some spots peeling like old house paint. She hasnt even been in the water yet. Leaving it would just be asking for trouble later, sanding all of it would be too labor intensive. I talked with the tech guys at West System today, and they told me that strippers would work fine if used in small areas and dont leave it on long. It would eventually react with the epoxy if left on for a while. Sounds like some trials are in order.

[ 09-22-2005, 02:49 AM: Message edited by: chergui ]

[Dick Wynne]

Nitromors paint stripper gets my single-pot Epifanes enamel off without harming the epoxy/glass layer beneath. I have also used it on the (non-epoxy coated) insides when needing to get to bare wood for a repair.

[WindHawk]

Did this. Found the strippers, when used sparingly enough to not hurt the epoxy, left enough of a mess to require a good sanding anyway. I ended up sanding the whole hull down to bare wood, as the original epoxy was trapping water.

After the carpal tunnel cleared up from sanding in strange positions at odd hours of the night, I enjoyed a good month of sailing. Next boat was GRP, and the next one after that will be built from plans. It will not be stiched & glued.

[ddeaton]

I understand all the concerns and thank everyone for the tips. I realize it will have to be sanded totally after it is said and done, but it is a lot easier to run a orbital sander lightly over the surface to smooth for primer than to agressively sand away at the paint coats and risk eating through the whole mess anyway in spots. I guess I plan to splurge for a Festool sander and vac. I have never run one of these big 6" sanders, maybe I should wait and try it.
Thanks,
Danny

[wyndham]

Peel Away is safe to use on epoxy. I have stripped a 33 foot hull with peel away no problem. Follow the directions, be patient.