I would like to know the best way to remove the old paint from the inside of a 1911 pullman coach. Either want to take it down to the bare metal or just take off the latex paint and not touch the lead paint. Thanks for the help. Stu esepteacher@live.com

3 practical options: chemically, thermally or mechanically. I generally find myself using all 3.

dave

It seems a shame to remove historic fabric (i.e. historic layers of paint) if that's not necessary.

I would love to hear a way to lift a latex coat off the top of oil paint, without doing too much damage to the oil paint.

The slimy greenish environmentally friendly stripper (the stuff that dries to look like old toothpaste) actually works well for this, if one catches it at the right time in the drying process - while it is still just slimy enough. The stripper will not attack milk based paints at all.

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Will

Stu, Will and group,

Last year I purchased New York Central Diner 448, and performed a total restoration of this car ( to Amtrak standards ) which included the complete removal of every inch of existing paint inside the car. This enormous task was done to insure that a good coat of dupont primer could be applied for the IMRON paint. I tested many different products in different areas and after looking at the pros ( easy to use, not too dangerous, not too expensive ) etc etc versus the cons ( expensive, dangerous, hard to remove, etc etc ) I found that a product made by Kleanstrip named "AIRCRAFT PAINT REMOVER" in the liquid / gel type, worked extremely well. This product hands down, beat all over the counter type strippers. After attempting every product at Lowes, Home Depot etc, don't waste a dime. Kleanstrip Aircraft remover works fast, and works extremely well. It took multiple layers of paint off with little effort, and after ( what seemed to be a lifetime ), I had the entire interior of this car stripper to bare metal walls. The product "bubbles up" the old paint within 5-10 minutes and with a good straight edge, paint just falls to the floor with just some effort.

I tested other recommended products like "peel away" etc... which have a place in railroad use ( like removing old Amtrak exterior decals etc etc )... however on interior surfaces I would highly recommend the Kleanstrip aircraft paint remover.

This product can be bought in gallon containers for approximately 15.00 per gallon.

( below are photographs of the stripping and a one of the final product inside the 1947 Budd NYC diner # 448 )


Dean Levin

Wow! That corridor looks primo! One can just about smell the dining car aromas and hear the sounds of meals being prepared and served.