Repair & maintenance: Paint stripper and FRP?

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Paint stripper and FRP?

Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: General
Forum Name: Repair & maintenance
Forum Discription: Questions & tips on the subject
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=12043
Printed Date: 14 May 25 at 1:20am
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Topic: Paint stripper and FRP?

Posted By: Andymac
Subject: Paint stripper and FRP?
Date Posted: 11 Jun 15 at 9:37pm

I'm currently renovating a FRP Enterprise which in the past has had (at least) 3 coats of non slip paint inside the cockpit.
Much of it is flaking off and/or uneven. I have laboriously scraped away most of the loose stuff but there is still about 80% left.
Would it be safe to use a chemical paint stripper (i.e. Nitromors) without compromising the FRP lay up?
Any other ideas for chemical stripping? It's like proverbial 5#1* stuck to a blanket!
Alternatively, how about a little bit of gentle heat to soften/bubble the paint before scraping?
Any other mechanical stripping i.e. sanding?
Ideas/advice please...

Replies:

Posted By: piglet
Date Posted: 12 Jun 15 at 7:37am

I wouldn't do heat.
No personal experience but chemical strippers should be OK, try a small test patch first and make sure it's properly washed off when done.

If you Google there are several similar discussions around the interweb:
http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=25706.0

Posted By: laser193713
Date Posted: 12 Jun 15 at 12:05pm

Grippy deck paint tends to contain some sort of grit which will blunt scrapers and destroy sand paper. I think you are best to go down the chemical route. I would have a quick search around or even post a picture on here of the paint that you are trying to remove so that you can identify it or something similar. Then contact the manufacturer of the paint to see what it might be made of, then you can identify the best stripping chemical that is GRP safe.

Posted By: Paramedic
Date Posted: 12 Jun 15 at 6:58pm

Given that modern nitromors can't even strip paint i think you'd be pretty safe on FRP. But it still wont get the job done.

I have used a heat gun on low setting for the want of anything else to remove what seemed like 100 layers of paint from the inside of an FRP hull, but it's not ideal and you MUST be careful. Those polyester hulls are not post cured and you will melt the hull if you get it too hot.

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Posted By: PeterG
Date Posted: 12 Jun 15 at 10:51pm

People like International do strippers for anti fouling, such as Interstrip, which are designed for use on FRP, if you are worried, but I suspect any old stripper would do

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Peter
Ex Cont 707
Ex Laser 189635
DY 59

Posted By: The Moo
Date Posted: 13 Jun 15 at 8:34am

I am no expert but if 80% won't budge could you not apply something to the 20% to bring it level and then go over the whole thing with an appropriate coating?

Posted By: Paramedic
Date Posted: 13 Jun 15 at 8:49am

My experience with old FRP/GRP boats is that getting something to stick to whats there isn't that easy. And what tends to happen is that it then flakes off horribly and you're back to square one. An angle grinder with a linishing pad and lots of care should sufficiently key the surface to avoid this, but this is nasty, horrible stuff. Wear a mask (Not a paper shield with a bit of elastic, a proper respirator mask, not cheap but you only have one life), goggles and a paper overall.

And be careful!

Plastic boats are low maintenance, but when they need it they can be a pain! for DIY stuff give me a wooden boat every time.

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