What Have We Dunoon?
  • Home
  • Blog
  • About
  • Support
  • Contact

Our Homemade Paint Stripper Recipe

1/24/2023

23 Comments

 
Some of our main goals in restoring our home have always been reinstating the original character of our Victorian building, while doing so in as sustainably a way as possible - all while working with incredibly tight funds. 

Salavaging as many materials from the original house as possible became an important part of achieving these goals. Aside from adding the original character back into the building, they were also free - and mitigated the need to by new materials - thereby lowering the carbon footprint of our build. 

After Jameswood sustained about 30 years of water damage, this was easier said than done. Most of the structural timbers in the building were rotten at their ends (or all the way through, as so often was the case.) They were no longer suitable to be brought back into our home, and were instead used to build our shed, outdoor kitchen, or, if completely rotten, used as firewood. 

Fortunately, our doors had been smothered with numerous layers of paint, over their 120 year life. Their thick coatings were able to protect them from the water damage the rest of the building had sustained. We were determined to salvage these original pieces, and incorporate them into our restored building. 



To bring these doors back to life, we wanted to remove their many layers of paint, to bring them back to bare wood, before giving them a sand, fill and fresh coat.

We've tried many methods of paint stripping while restoring the 16 doors that would go back in the building.

First we tried scraping the paint off, using a shavehook like this one 
This method works... but it takes a LONG time - and it can also be dangerous. When working with Victorian doors, you have to assume there will be lead paint on them. Scraping off dry paint lifts a lot of paint-dust in the air. Breathing in lead dust is not good for you. If you try this method, be sure to wear a good quality face mask, clean your work area well after, and throw your clothes straight in the wash. You also get a lot of blisters from hours of scraping, so I really wouldn't recommend. 

I would, however, recommend grabbing one of those shavehooks. It is helpful for scraping small knooks and crannies. A good tool to have around for this job. 


Next I tried a store bought chemical paint stripper. I started with tryign No Nonsense stripper, from Screwfix, as it was the cheapest I could find. It was rubbish. Don't waste your time with it!

I then tried KlingStrip. This product worked well - but it was expensive. You have to lay it on very thick, cover it in plastic, leave it for a few hours (for best results, I left it overnight) and then clean off the paint and stripper. You have to be very careful to use gloves, and clean any stripper that gets onto your skin immediately. I left a speck on my arm for about 5 minutes, and it had already created an open sore.
At about £30 for a 5L tub, and with 16 doors to get through, I would be paying hundreds to get all the paint off. Our project finances are so tight - this just wasn't an option. 

I decided to look into the ingredient list for this product, and found the main active ingredient was Sodium Hydroxide - a.k.a. Lye. This is the chemical commonly used in soap making. It is readily available, and very cheap. 

So, here is my homemade paintstripper recipe! It is a fraction of the cost of the pre-made versions, and jsut as effective.


Homemade Paint Stripper Recipe

Safety information: 

Sodium Hyrdroxide, or Lye, is incredibly corrosive. It WILL cause open sores if not cleaned off skin thoroughly with water, within a few minutes of exposure. 

Please wear long rubber gloves, sleeves and goggles when mixing and using this product. 

Lye also creates heat when initially mixed with water. Always add Lye to water, rather than pouring water over lye. 


Ingredients:

Water: Sodium Hydroxide    approx 10:1 ratio
Cornflour - as thickening agent


Instructions:

While wearing all saftey equipment, measure 1L of water into a suitable plastic bucket. Add 100ml of cornflour to the water, mix thoroughly. 

While stirring, add 100ml Sodium Hydroxide to the mixture. Continue mixing for a minute. As Sodium Hydroxide heats the water, the cornflour will begin to thicken. 

Let cool for 10 minutes before use.

Storage: 
Store away from children, in well labelled container. 

Use: 
Do a test patch on the material you would like to paint strip. Once tested:

Apply a thick layer onto item. Cover in plastic wrap. Leave overnight for best results. Scrape off as much excess paint and stripper before rinsing thoroughly. 

If, after rinsing, the item still feels slippery, spray down with cleaning vinegar (25% vinegar) to neutralise any excess paint stripper. 


We have successfully used this recipe to fully paint strip our original Victorian doors, as well as cast iron radiators. 
Creative Commons License
What Have We Dunoon Blog by Claire Segeren is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Based on a work at whathavewedunoon.weebly.com.
23 Comments
Coby
1/24/2023 10:12:05 am

Wow! Excellent! We bought a place on East Bay a few months ago and none of the doors closed due to 120 years of paint. We did a lead test on them which was negative. We had to shorten the doors to fix over carpets we were having installed but the hinges were completely packed with paint so we used stripper on those, got the doors off and boiled the hinges which took off ever bit of paint. You wouldn’t believe the quick fixes that have been done to our doors. Not sure some of them are even salvageable but will try your stripping recipe this summer. At least we only have 9 doors to strip!

Reply
Suzanne
1/24/2023 09:27:52 pm

So I finally found the stripper recipe! 😁 I need to strip all 7 doors and some cupboards in my 1936 home…going to give it a go. You’re doing a great job on your project and also educating us while entertaining us. Hoping I’m not too old for this project (I’m 69-years).

Reply
Pete
4/23/2023 04:02:10 am

Peel Away stripper is very similar but uses a mix of lime putty and lye. I make my own as well, at about a seventh of the price.

On brickwork the lye seems to cause short term efflorescence, my next batch will be made with lime and soda ash and may alleviate this.

Reply
Craig lees
4/23/2023 09:55:36 am

Pete What is the recipe you used. Lost of door shutter s and skirtings needing stripped

Reply
Pete
4/23/2023 04:53:26 pm

2 litres cold water
1 kg caustic soda powder
Very roughly, 200g of corn flour
12kg of lime putty (or half a 25kg bag, which is convenient for me).

Makes 15kg ish. I'd say it's a bit stronger than Peel Away but works essentially exactly the same - without the bankruptcy.

That's a no mucking around concentration of caustic soda/lye. Suit up, put goggles on and do that hydration outside. Add soda to the water, not the other way around.

Pete
4/23/2023 04:58:40 pm

Oh, I'd expect that would darken timber, I don't know that this is a good route if you want to varnish afterwards.

Ken
9/9/2023 08:33:58 am

Hi Pete, Do you have to make the lime into putty first, or just poor the lime powder into the mix and it's ready to use ?

Reply
Pete
9/10/2023 06:50:44 pm

Lime putty isn't hydrated lime powder mixed with water, it's slaked quicklime and you buy it as a semi-liquid. This is what I use https://newtonsbuilding.com.au/product/lime-putty-red-25kg

I imagine it might be possible to use a calcium hydroxide powder rather than putty however I don't know how you'd go about that or if it works.

Abby
4/18/2024 10:29:09 am

Hi Pete, did you have luck mitigating the efflorescence buy using the lime and soda ash? I have a painted, 1910 brick foundation that I'd like to return to it's former glory and want to make sure I don't ruin/damage the brick underneath the layers of paint past owners applied. Thanks in advanced.

Reply
Pete
4/18/2024 04:46:34 pm

I did, but only on one test area at this stage and possibly not on a substrate comparable to the brickwork that effloresced in the past. As I haven't done enough to be sure I don't really have ingredient proportions worked out either, though I think I just swapped caustic soda out for the same amount of soda ash, by volume. There's more stripping coming up but it's near the bottom of the queue. If you give it a go let us know how it works.

Ken
11/26/2023 02:20:43 pm

Pete , what is the mixing procedure of the lime putty with the Lye. Thanks.

Reply
Pete
11/26/2023 02:47:27 pm

Here's a method I wrote up a while ago, enjoy.

Get your PPE on.  This stuff, particularly the caustic soda in water step, is nasty.  You should be fully covered, with gloves taped to your shirt.  Wear goggles, not just glasses, at a minimum.

Pay attention!

In a plastic container (whatever you do, not aluminium), place the water.

To this add the caustic soda, a few hundred grams at a time, pouring slowly. 

Stir with a paint stirrer on a drill in between pours, the reaction is exothermic and it will get hot. You'd probably be mad to do this inside.

Moderate the heat produced by doing the above slowly and in spaced out steps. Pay attention!

Mix with the lime putty and stir and stir until it's all mixed.

Add cornflour to taste.  I find that adding it at the caustic hydration step leads to clumping, probably from the heat.

Apply to the surface to be stripped in a layer a few mm thick and cover with cling wrap.

Leave for up to a few days, though this amount of time often isn't necessary. On painted glass about one hour seems to work.

Scrape it off as thoroughly as possible then scrub and wash with water.

Reply
Rock Star Coating Pros link
12/15/2023 10:35:38 am

The blog from What Have We Dunoon shares a valuable homemade paint stripper recipe, providing an eco-friendly alternative for DIY enthusiasts. The post not only offers practical insights into creating an effective paint remover but also promotes sustainability in home improvement projects. A must-visit for those seeking efficient and environmentally conscious solutions for paint stripping.

Reply
Coatings On demand link
12/15/2023 10:52:13 am

The blog on homemade paint stripper by What Have We Dunoon is a gem for DIYers. It not only guides readers through an effective recipe but also emphasizes environmentally friendly alternatives. With detailed instructions and a commitment to sustainability, this post is a go-to resource for those seeking eco-conscious solutions for their paint removal projects.

Reply
Lisa Smith
1/6/2024 06:32:28 pm

Can you tell me where the eco friendly recipe is for leaf paint removal.

Reply
Pete
4/18/2024 04:48:33 pm

This is it. It's highly caustic but once PH neutralised is fairly benign. Once it's got lead paint in it it is in no way eco friendly though and there's no way around that.

Reply
Paul Morris
12/17/2024 11:53:40 am

Fully endorse the safety precautions. I add the caustic to wall paper paste. Very satisfactory, very effective and very cheap. Thanks to all others who experiment!

Reply
먹튀검증 link
3/12/2025 08:54:04 pm

Positive site, where did u come up with the information on this posting?I have read a few of the articles on your website now, and I really like your style. Thanks a million and please keep up the effective work.

Reply
밤알바 link
3/19/2025 03:48:26 am

Start your search for a reliable 밤알바 job today and start earning extra income.

Reply
파타야 가라오케 link
3/23/2025 12:44:23 am

This is a great inspiring article.I am pretty much pleased with your good work.You put really very helpful information. Keep it up. Keep blogging. Looking to reading your next post.

Reply
esportivabet link
5/4/2025 08:09:28 pm

Thanks so much for sharing this awesome info! I am looking forward to see more postsby you!

Reply
나트랑 가라오케 link
5/20/2025 01:57:51 am

It’s appropriate time to make some plans for the future and it is time to be happy. I have read this post and if I could I wish to suggest you few interesting things or advice. Perhaps you could write next articles referring to this article. I desire to read even more things about it!

Reply
스포츠중계 link
6/15/2025 12:00:14 am

Remarkable article, it is particularly useful! I quietly began in this, and I'm becoming more acquainted with it better! Delights, keep doing more and extra impressive!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    May 2023
    January 2023
    June 2022
    March 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    November 2019
    August 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • Blog
  • About
  • Support
  • Contact