Top 3 powder paint removers, best removal methods and tips

Reading time: ~ 7 minutes Powder coating of metal is becoming increasingly important, as the protective and decorative coating significantly improves the performance characteristics of painted products and their appearance. It is used in the automotive industry, painting of household appliances and interior parts, for sports, medical, food, laboratory equipment, and in advertising production, since this type of coating is characterized by high adhesion to the surface, resistance to external influences and durability. However, these same factors make it difficult to remove powder paint if it is necessary to repaint the product or process it in some other way.

You cannot do without removing the powder paint even if the coating is damaged. This happens if the metal was poorly prepared for painting, for example, it was poorly washed or degreased. Then the old paint may sometimes lag behind the surface with the formation of bubbles, or peel off. Conventional mechanical cleaning with a spatula or other available tools will be useless in this case due to the high strength of the coating.

Chemical cleaning methods

You can remove old powder coating using special chemical solvents, which are available in large quantities in a similar market segment. They do their job well and quickly and have a different composition that removes not only paint, but also rust. Such solutions are quite expensive, so this method of removal is used only in certain cases when the costs justify the results.

Conventionally, chemical solvents are divided into thick and liquid.

Removal with thick chemical solvents

Before you begin removing paint using this method, you must thoroughly clean the metal of contaminants and degrease it. Afterwards, a special thick chemical solution is applied to the surface using a brush or roller. After some time, the coating begins to crack and swell, and can be easily cleaned with a spatula. This removal option is very convenient, since the solvent has a thick consistency, adheres well to the surface, and does not flow down.

Depending on the layer of powder paint, the entire removal process can take up to 8 hours, but more often the paint will crack within a few minutes after applying the solvent. This method is used to remove powder coating from large surfaces - roofs, fences and floors.

Examples of cleaning compositions

Paint remover "Remover"

The Remover brand Powder Paint Remover is an effective, reusable product designed for removing epoxy, polyester and epoxy-polyester coatings. Not only steel can be processed, but also aluminum. "Remover" is a ready-to-use drug. The table below shows the parameters corresponding to this chemical.

Note! Chemicals of this type can only be heated if there is a ventilation system.

Tips for using Remover remover:

1. Fill the container with water so that the liquid is 1-2 centimeters above the level of the immersed part. This is an important point, since carbon dioxide, which is part of the air, negatively affects the stability of the bath.
2. The preferred material for a bathtub is steel (stainless steel is best). It is strictly not recommended to use zinc, galvanized or aluminum containers.
3. The product must be dry before dipping.
4. Due to periodic bubbling (the process of pumping air through water), the removal of the paint layer can be intensified.
5. When the coating begins to peel off, it can be removed from the container and left in the air to allow any remaining remover to drain. In this case, the product must be positioned so that the liquid leaves all cavities and recesses.
6. If some fragments do not separate, you can repeat the wash, but this time increase the temperature and (or) the time the part is in the bath.
7. After removing it from the bath and draining the remaining rinse, the product is washed in water.
8. Avoid getting water into the wash solution, as this will make the solution unsuitable for use.
9. To replenish the container, a fresh solution is used as an activator. The bath is filled only after the sludge has been removed.
10. Waste paint from the bathroom should be removed using a filter, separator or membrane-type filter press. These measures will extend the service life of the cleaning solution.

Paint remover "Fail-4"

This product is used to remove all types of powder compounds, including epoxy, polyurethane, polyester, epoxy-polyester and vinyl chloride. Both steel surfaces and products made of non-ferrous metals can be cleaned. It is possible to clean plaster, concrete, stone and wooden surfaces.

Main parameters of "Fail-4":

1. The washing composition is a thick liquid with significant thixotropic characteristics.
2. The drug includes a solvent, an inhibitory substance, a thickener and complex converters.
3. The remover is not a corrosive substance.
4. Hazard class - third.
5. The liquid is not flammable.
6. The cleaning agent is removed from the treated material using water, technical cleaning agents or a solvent.
7. Consumption - from 120 to 250 grams per square meter of surface.
8. Recommended temperature of use can range from 8-25 degrees above zero.

Before applying the composition, the surface must be prepared. Preparatory work consists of cleaning the treated coating from contaminants using water or technical detergents.

The wash can be applied in several ways:

1. Brush, roller, pour or spray.
2. By immersion. If this method is chosen, you will need a container of the appropriate size in which to hold the part for several minutes. The maximum time that can be allocated for dipping an object is 2.5 hours.

1. It is possible to remove all types of powder paints, which distinguishes Fail-4 from its competitors.
2. Low wash consumption. For competing formulations, consumption ranges from 300-600 grams per square meter, while for Fail-4 this figure does not exceed 250 grams.
3. Exposure time ranges from 3 to 15 minutes, and for analogues it can reach several hours.
4. Good thixotropic properties. Thixotropy refers to the ability of a remover to linger on vertical surfaces.
5. The remover can be diluted, if necessary, with isopropyl alcohol. Proportions: 1-2 parts alcohol to 8-9 parts cleaning agent.
6. Water makes the remover more viscous, but its effectiveness is greatly reduced.
7. Remains active at low temperatures without losing its qualities when defrosted.

Instructions for application in different ways:

1. Application by brush, roller or pour-on method. Apply the remover composition in an even layer to the surface to be cleaned and wait for 3-15 minutes until the coating begins to swell and crack. Remove any remaining paint using a spatula or scraper. If there are areas of the coating that cannot be mechanically removed on the surface, place the part in the remover again. Do not forget that the total time the item is in the chemical solution should not exceed 2.5 hours.
2. Application by immersion. The composition is poured into a container, where the item being processed is then placed. The average time required for cracks to appear in the coating ranges from 3 to 20 minutes.

Liquid chemical solvents

For this method of removing powder paint, the item to be cleaned is placed in a special steel container or stainless steel bath, previously filled with liquid solvent. After some time, the powder coating begins to delaminate, but the metal remains unchanged. To obtain a quick chemical reaction, the part must be stirred periodically in the solution. After this process, the metal is cleaned of the old coating using spatulas and washed with water to completely remove any remaining solvent.

This wash is suitable for cleaning sharp parts that can easily be immersed in the prepared container. In addition to removing the old layer of paint, this product destroys rust and limescale deposits.

Top 6. NEOMID paint remover

Rating (2021): 4.75

Best penetrating ability The product penetrates deeply into the base, effectively coping with the removal of multi-layer paint and varnish coatings.

• Characteristics

  Average price: 482 rub.

• Country Russia
• Type: gel
• Volume: 800 ml

The best product for working with multi-layer paint and varnish coatings, made on the basis of methylene chloride, isopropyl alcohol and functional additives that increase the performance properties of the material. Remove old paint can be used indoors and outdoors. The composition removes paint and varnish coatings from wood and metal surfaces. Aggressiveness towards plastic parts somewhat limits the scope of application. When opening the package, special care must be taken - vapors of volatile compounds that pose a health hazard accumulate under the lid.

Advantages and disadvantages

• Easy to apply to vertical surfaces
• High penetrating effect
• Versatility of use

• Short shelf life

Metal burning

The essence of this method is to intensively heat the paint layer with a hair dryer or blowtorch. Under the influence of high temperatures, the coating begins to crack, after which it is removed with a spatula.

Thermal impact on metal is a labor-intensive process, the speed of which depends on the power of the heating devices and the thickness of the coating being removed - the thicker it is, the longer the removal process will take. Sometimes, to obtain a quick effect, parts can be fired over a fire or in a furnace, but this method is not suitable for all metals and is less progressive.

It is important to remember that many paint compositions can have good flammability even after the composition has completely dried. Therefore, this fact must be taken into account in order to avoid emergency situations and observe safety precautions.

Removal with water

Removing the old coating using this method uses a high-pressure unit, which creates high water pressure. For better cleaning, fine glass chips are added to the water, which removes the powder paint. The water for this method must be cold as it cools the coating and makes it brittle, after which it is effectively removed by the abrasive glass particles.

This option is the fastest, simplest and safest - the removal process does not take much time, the metal itself is not deformed and does not cause harm to health. However, you should not remove the paint yourself using this method - for this it is better to contact special organizations.

Mechanical

To do this, you can take a grinder with a wire brush attachment or a drill with a metal brush. This option, on the one hand, is simple, on the other, very labor-intensive. You will have to divide the surface area of ​​the structure into small sections and work with each separately.

You can also pick up a sharp knife. After carefully inspecting the doors, find a place on them where the coating is cracked, and then pry it off with a tool. Once the surface is clean, sand the steel with water-repellent sandpaper. Before sanding, you need to wet the iron doors with cold water.

Removal using sandblasting

Another popular and effective solution for removing old paint. Its action is similar to the previous one, the only difference is that instead of water, a stream of fine sand is applied to the surface of the metal, which removes the paint layer. The coarse abrasive gradually removes the old paint, freeing the parts from the old paint.

This removal process is very labor-intensive and requires certain skills, since an inexperienced master with strong pressure can damage thin and fragile workpieces. In addition to powder coating, rust, various deposits and irregularities on the metal surface are removed in this way.

The difficulty of removal depends on the quality of the powder coating and its service life. Subsequent painting requires careful cleaning and preparation of the metal surface. But in any case, before the subsequent application of paint, it is recommended to correctly approach the issue of choosing a powder coating. You can buy powder paint in Moscow on our website. We also work with other regions of Russia. Our online store offers a large selection of powder paint from various popular manufacturers. When purchasing a product from us, you receive a guarantee of quality at the most attractive price!

Rating of the TOP 10 best paint removers from metal for 2021-2022