Paint Stripper

Is there any good paint stripper left on the market now a days? I tried the AirCraft brand that worked in the past, and it didn't work. It is clear now, instead of the yellow it used to be. Has the EPA killed everything?

I buy cans of it from Ace Hardware, but can't recall the name. The can is red and gold.

It works, but takes multiple applications. Also helps if you rough up the top surface with sandpaper or a wire brush first. Sometimes when it's sitting there slowly doing it's thing I will take an exacto knife or a pick and help loosen it up.

The stuff has changed for sure. I can remember using it to remove paint from bmx bike parts when I was a teenager and the paint would start to lift the moment the stripper touched it. Today's stuff is just weaker, or the paint ingredients have changed.

Years back there used to be a brand called Captain Lee's I'd buy at the swap meets. Had lots of Methylene Chloride in it. Nasty stuff for sure but it worked, til the spray bottles they gave you to apply it froze up from the rapid evaporation of the methylene chloride. Chances are the EPA stepped in and severely reduced the usage of that chemical. Along with sanding you might try enhancing your stripper by laying newspaper or plastic over the top of the parts after laying down the stripper, to help keep it from evaporating.

I have seen and had good luck using what we called the "bondo buster" DA from Snap on... Some 36 grit and it will go through paint pretty quick.

I watched a bodyman clean up a door jamb with a "finger" cleaner, a type of long fingered wire wheel that made a tough job much simpler..

The fiber disk ( you use on a drill) does a pretty good job also.

I am aware you asked about "chemical" cleaners, but I thought I would give you some options I have seen/used...

Zip Strip paint remover is still pretty potent

I just used some aircraft and it was still yellow and worked well! You may have gotten an old can see if there is a date on the can.

I'm using Aircraft Paint Remover now on steel wheels and body panels, and it's plenty strong and working very well. As long as you put it on thick, the paint will craze and lift up in a few minutes. It has a very strong ammonia odor, and it will chemically burn your skin pretty quick if you don't wash it off, so it's potent stuff.

My body and paint shop advised me to use Aircraft and to coat afterwards with Rust Cure or other phosphoric acid and wipe down with mineral spirits to lessen the acid residue.

I use one sold in the store as a paint stripper for furniture. Brush it on outside because I can see the fumes rolling off it.

Last time I bought some, it took a long long time to work and that was with roughing up the surface. It used to be if you got a tiny drop on you, you'd be running to the hose to wash it off... not you don't even know it's on you. Just another thing they made pretty much useless because of safety concerns.

I am usually one to agree with guys like Silver70.....BUT the reason they banned these chemicals is due to the risk of cancer. Unless you have had some form of cancer, you may not appreciate their efforts.