How to remove paint from metal?

Painted metal looks clean when fresh but after time and age, it can become chipped, scratched, and leach corrosion.

In these cases or other scenarios, you might want some paint to be stripped or removed from a metal surface, as a call for metal to be polished, repainted, or reused with a different finish.

There are 3 major methods to be aware of when removing paint from metal.

Firstly know how to remove paint from the metals like chrome, aluminum, and steel.

How to remove paint from chrome?

Chrome is highly decorative steel mainly used in manufacturing automobiles and vehicles as well as the hardware inside buildings.

Paint stripper works best for removing paint from chrome without damaging it.

Simply follow the manufacturer’s instructions on chemical paint removers. 

How to remove paint from aluminum?

Most aluminum paint is powder-based, making a plastic blast media and bead blaster the best method of removal. Apply the media and use the blaster at low pressures (13-15psi); it effectively removes paint one layer at a time and does not damage the substrate. 

How to remove paint from steel?

Highly robust and versatile in terms of manufacturing, stripping paint from steel metal works best with either a chemical solvent or via buffing and grinding, depending on the type of paint used.

Most structural steel requires paint removal to be done using an angle grinder due to the immense size of the job.

More ways to remove paint from metal

How to strip paint from metal using hot water & a scraper?

Materials needed: Kettle/Teapot or Electric Kettle, Scraper/Putty Knife, Brush, Rag/Cloth, Disposable Container 

It’s entirely possible to remove paint even spray paint from metal without having to use chemicals, only hot water [1], and a few simple household items.

This method is simple and is the most affordable option to strip paint so long as it’s done correctly for a small metal piece. 

1. Prepare a disposable container; an old aluminum tray or clothes-washing basin works well here. 
2. Heat your water until it boils. 
3. Place the item within the container, preferably on a heat-resistant or non-burn surface. Slowly pour the boiling water onto the item until fully submerged. 
4. Let the pieces soak in the hot water for about 5 – 10 minutes until you see the paint start to bubble. In the event that it doesn’t bubble, drain the water and repeat the process, this time adding more hot water to reheat the metal.
5. Once you see the paint starting to peel, you can begin to slowly scrape it off using a scraper or putty knife. You can scrape the piece even as it is submerged in hot water, just be sure to wear protective gloves or take it out to scrape it dry.
6. Once most of the paint is off, continue to scrub your pieces clean using a soft-bristled brush.
7. Wipe off all the accumulated tarnish underneath the coating using a rag or cloth.

How to remove paint from metal using a paint stripper?

Materials needed: Paint Stripper, Mineral Spirits, Scraper, Rag/Cloth

Using a paint stripper is perhaps the most effective way to remove paint or spray paint from any metal surface, albeit being more costly because of the need to get specified chemical solutions.

1. Prepare your work area and ready the necessary covers and protective gear.
2. Place a small amount of stripper into a glass or tin can. Using an old brush, apply the paint stripper to your pieces and allow it to set, following the manufacturer’s instructions.
3. Begin scraping once the paint bubbles or peels. 
4. Repeat steps 2 & 3 until your items are paint-free. 
5. Dampen a rag or cloth with mineral spirits and wipe down the pieces to be rid of any remaining loose paint flakes and to do away with most of the stripper’s chemical residue.
6. Wipe the items clean with a dry rag/cloth.

How to remove paint from metal using baking soda?

Materials needed: Baking soda, Hot Water, Disposable Container, Scraper, Rag/Cloth

Using baking soda as opposed to just hot water can provide for a faster and more efficient paint stripping method. Works with enamel, acrylic, and oil-based paints. 

1. Ready your container and place your items to be stripped inside.
2. Heat water until it boils.
3. Pour the water slowly until the piece is fully submerged.
4. Add in the baking soda and let it soak for about an hour. 
5. Begin scraping once the paint starts to peel.
6. Brush off any leftover paint and wipe your piece down with a rag/cloth.

How to remove paint from metal using a heat gun?

Materials needed: Heat gun, scraper, mineral spirits, Dry and damp cloth

While using a heat gun is commonly used to remove paint from wood, you can also use this tool to remove paint from metal. Just be careful not to overheat the metal to avoid warping.

1. Use heat-resistant gloves and prepare your workstation.
2. Starting with alow heat, point the heat gun only a few inches away. A distance enough for the tip of the heat to touch the painted surface.
3. Gradually increase the temperature when needed.
4. When the paint starts bubbling, gently scrape the paint off until all the paint is gone. 
5. Wait for the surface to cool down.
6. Clean the surface with mineral spirits and wet cloth.
7. Wipe it dry.

How to remove paint using a wire brush attachment on an angle grinder?

 Tools needed: Angle-grinder , wire brush attachment, Vise,/clamps, Rag/ cloth

A wire brush attachment on an angle grinder is good for removing flaky and soft paint [2]. It is also best to use for flaky and soft paint on corners and hard-to-reach areas.

1. Wear protective gear such as safety glasses, dust masks, and leather gloves.
2. Attach the wire brush to your angle grinder. Check your manual for instructions.
3. Use a vise or clamps to securely hold the metal item.
4. Turn the angle grinder on starting with the lowest speed. Gradually move it on the corners and hard-to-reach areas while increasing the speed. Ensure that the brush rotates away from the edge, not going to the edge. 
5. Remove the leftover paint and clean the surface with a clean cloth.

Tips for removing paint from different metal surfaces

Metal window frame.

Metal window frames can be hard to reach given their placement in usually tight spots.

If you don’t know how to remove paint from metal window frames, you’d want to use a gel-based paint stripper here along with a narrow brush to remove paint with more control.

Clean the frames before applying the stripper so that it sticks better. Allow up to 24hrs for the gel to fully take effect then scrape.

Metal railing.

If you have no idea how to remove paint from metal railings. You can go with either a dry-scrape or by using paint strippers.

For paint that’s just mildly old or still well-bonded, we recommend using a paint stripper to make it lose and viable for scraping, otherwise, just use a metal scraper or hard-bristle brush to scrape off already-peeling paint.

Metal door.

If you want to remove paint from metal doors keep note that metal doors can sometimes have multiple coats of paint, we suggest using a paint thinner 1st, followed by a good wash down using a pressure washer set to 80psi.

After the initial ‘strip’, use a heat gun to peel off secondary coats then scrape. Fully rinse everything off once the doors are paint-free.

Metal hardware.

Because metal hardware is often small, you can avoid using chemical paint strippers and just go with plain hot, boiling water.

You’d want to just let the pieces soak in a container filled with hot water for about 10 minutes, then manually scrape off the paint once it starts peeling.

Metal chairs.

Technically, these already count as furniture, so the process of how to remove paint from metal chairs is very similar.

Depending on the design and size, begin by cleaning your chair with a lightly dampened cloth.

Apply a paint thinner to all areas you wish to strip and allow it to set. Scrape, repeat, and rinse.

Metal hinges.

Hinges are mostly small metal pieces, even for large doors. They’re easy to work with and can be effectively stripped.

There are different methods on how to remove paint from metal door hinges: Either a heat gun, paint stripper, boiling water, or even a crockpot. You can even use a combination of methods, depending on the number of hinges you need to strip paint from.

Metal furniture.

Metal furniture can be quite intricate and will often have you hacking away at awkward angles and areas.

As a general tip on how to remove paint from metal furniture, we recommend using a paint stripper to bubble paint regardless of the metal’s shape. Scrape off any loose paint and then wash it down with mineral spirits to rinse off the chemical residue.

Conclusion

Metal is a very durable and lasting material.

Though painting metal is not always done, in the event that it is, it’s often for strengthening and aesthetic purposes.

It’s fully possible to reuse metal and strip off old paint in preparation for a new, fresh coat.

Removing paint from metal doesn’t need to be complicated and expensive.

In fact, you can effectively remove paint using common household items.

You don’t need professional services to remove paint; it can be easy DIY with the right tools and knowledge.

What can really speed things up a lot of the time is a  handy sanding tool.  And if you want to remove paint from wood, here’s how you should go about it.