Utilizing a chemical process, paint stripper is a time-saving product that will spare you the tedious, sand-paper method of removing paint.
Types of Paint Stripper
There are 3 basic types of paint stripper that you can choose from, each featuring different properties.
- Liquid paint stripper can become runny if you are using it on a vertical surface.
- Paste paint stripper must be kept moist as you're working.
- Gel paint stripper costs more than the others, but is easier to use.
How Paint Stripper Works
Paint stripper is a chemical compound that is designed to eat away at or otherwise dissolve the paint it is applied to, as well as the bond between the paint and the surface beneath it. The principle behind paint strippers is to penetrate the paint film, causing it to swell and to create certain internal strains that weaken the paint's adhesion to the surface beneath it, which allows the layer of paint and the substrate to become separated.
The principle ingredient in paint stripper products is typically dichloromethane, although other compounds are also often used including orange oil, N-methylpyrrolidone, diabasic esters and dicarboxylic acids for example.
