Finally got around to stripping the 10 layers of paint off of those lovely Victorian hinges I purchased at Vaccaro’s Salvage.
The easiest, cheapest way to strip hardware is to boil it. I add some baking soda and simmer it for 30-60 minutes. Some folks cook it in a crock pot overnight with a bit of laundry detergent. Hardware. It’s what’s for dinner.
Once it’s soaked, the bulk of the paint will come off with no effort. You’ll have some cleaning up to do in crevices. Have a wire brush handy to scrub more paint off.
A few tips:
1. No, you don’t use a pot you use to cook.
2. Have tongs handy. That sh*t gets hot!
3. Ditto on gloves.
4. You’ll need some stripping tools for the pot action, then…
5. For clean up: chemical stripper, mask, chemical gloves, small pointy tool for teeny detail areas, wire brush or steel wool.
6. Clean up well. Chances are it is lead paint.
7. Soak in soapy water, then vinegar (scrub) to make it shine like new!
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Awesome job and great post!
Comment by Cherry@NewburghRestoration — July 9, 2009 @ 4:00 pm
amazing. jealous.
great tip though!
Comment by sarah — July 11, 2009 @ 8:49 pm
You know who I’m jealous of? People who have lives.
Comment by RH — July 12, 2009 @ 4:14 pm
Wow, how beautiful they look. Great job! Great tip!
Comment by Haydee Velez-Colon — July 14, 2009 @ 8:05 am
beautifully done, and excellent presentation! I had used ammonia for small parts, overnight. I will try this.
Comment by Andrew — July 16, 2009 @ 8:08 am
Wow! Just wow! Love it so much… you have saved me countless hours!
Comment by Heather Kasdan — July 17, 2009 @ 4:26 pm
Wish I’d known all that years ago. Really terrif.
Comment by Arkady — July 20, 2009 @ 10:07 am
I just found your site and am working my way through your archives. This is a GREAT tip; something I’ll have to remember cause it seems so useful. Awesome blog!
Comment by carrie @ brick city love — July 21, 2009 @ 11:33 am
[...] I have to thank Reclaimed Home for helping me restore the vintage light switch in my new apartment. It was caked with multiple layers of paint. I boiled it for about twenty minutes in water and baking soda. Paint slid right off and I didn’t have to use carcinogenic stripper with a gas mask. Here are the directions from Reclaimed Home: Boiling Hardware. [...]
Pingback by BrooklynModern » Blog Archive » Kudos to Reclaimed Home: Boiling Hardware to Perfection – BrooklynModern — October 9, 2009 @ 12:42 pm
[...] I have to thank Reclaimed Home for helping me restore the vintage light switch in my new apartment. It was caked with multiple layers of paint. I boiled it for about twenty minutes in water and baking soda. Paint slid right off and I didn’t have to use carcinogenic stripper with a gas mask. Here are the directions from Reclaimed Home: Boiling Hardware. [...]
Pingback by BrooklynModern » Blog Archive » Kudos to Reclaimed Home: Boiling Hardware to Perfection – BrooklynModern — October 9, 2009 @ 12:42 pm
Now why didn’t I thik of that? Great Blog!
http://www.1800homealarm.com
Comment by JW — July 19, 2011 @ 6:08 pm