Can I use heat gun to remove paint off a radiator?

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussion' started by Juvenile, Apr 20, 2012.

  1. Juvenile

    Juvenile Apprentice Gardener

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    Can I use heat gun to remove paint of radiator?
     
  2. music

    music Memories Are Made Of This.

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    Hi Juvenile. Just Spoke to my Son in Law ,who is a Painter/Decorator.
    His Answer was No. He Said the Original Covering would be Enamel using the Heat Gun would Burn it back to the original Metal.He Recommended Sand Blast.
    Hope this helps you ,best of luck.
     
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    • Phil A

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    • JWK

      JWK Gardener Staff Member

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      I've used Nitromors to strip off old paint from radiators, I think it only removed the overpainted gloss paint rather than getting it back to the metal.
       
    • Phil A

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      Sorry, i was being very non explainatory there, the metal will take the heat away from the heat gun too quickly.
       
    • clueless1

      clueless1 member... yep, that's what I am:)

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      I used paint stripper on a radiator once. The enable had to come off because it was cracked and peeling anyway. The paint stripper worked but there is a word of caution.

      I wore rubber (or latex or pvc, can't remember) gloves as I did it. The gloves I used were supposed to be chemical proof. I got some of the paint stripper on one of my gloves. Within seconds, it felt like my hand was on fire. I ripped the glove off and ran to the sink to rinse my hand. There was even the horrid smell of singed flesh and everything, although fortunately I got to the sink before any damage was done. So be warned:dbgrtmb:
       
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        :hate-shocked:
         
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        • Jack McHammocklashing

          Jack McHammocklashing Sludgemariner

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          not

          I do not know about radiators, but Nitromos works great on Hit and run Landrover Discovery's with aluminium roofs and bonnets, After ten hours the hole in the roof drips the Nitromos onto the leather seats so I am led to belive :-)

          Jack McH
           
        • Aesculus

          Aesculus Bureaucrat 34 (Admin)

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          Not any more Jack one guess as to who has gone and banned dichloromethane in paint strippers...

          http://www.chemweek.com/markets/spe...ethane-from-Use-in-Paint-Strippers_16660.html
           
        • Fidgetsmum

          Fidgetsmum Total Gardener

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          Silly question - but why do you need to remove the paint?
           
        • Jack McHammocklashing

          Jack McHammocklashing Sludgemariner

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          I should think that at one time they were painted, a different colour from the original enameld paint, and as normally happens this then goes off, either flakey or colour change, the surface becomes bad, so can not repaint over it

          Jack McH
           
        • clueless1

          clueless1 member... yep, that's what I am:)

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          I've seen it where the enamel cracks with age. Moisture gets under it and rust sets in. The only solution (that I know of) is to strip it down to the bare metal and start again, because once moisture has got in, if you just paint over it it wont last.
           
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          • Fidgetsmum

            Fidgetsmum Total Gardener

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            Sorry to appear dense, it's just that I've never had a radiator that actually needed all the paint removed and just wondered under what circumstances this would be necessary.
             
          • Jack McHammocklashing

            Jack McHammocklashing Sludgemariner

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            As clueless1 post
            The old enamel crackS the radiator rusts and flakes, or If it had been painted a different colour using ordinary paint, then it discolours or bubbles up

            The only way to remove is to have the radiator dipped in acid, or to be honest if it is that old, it would be more economical to replace, as modern radiators are more efficient at disipating heat, and not as dear as one would think

            Jack McH
             
          • clueless1

            clueless1 member... yep, that's what I am:)

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            When I did mine with paint stripper, the intention was to take the whole lot down to the metal. I must confess I quickly realised that even with the assistance of some very nasty chemicals, it was going to be too much like hard work, so I only took it down to the bare metal where rust had got in and the immediate surrounding area, and anywhere else where the old enamel had cracked and/or blistered. The rest of it just got a once over with the wire brush, then after a thorough cleaning, I sprayed the lot with a novel spray paint I'd found that gave a stone effect finish.
             
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