17 replies to this topic

[mattbeddow]

Hello
I am going to start repainting my wheels soon (12" alloys) but i want to strip the paint off first to see if there is any damage to the wheel or just the paint.
I was going to use nitromors to strip the paint but I have herd that the formula has changed and it is rather ineffective.
Can anyone confirm this?
If so, then I was thinking about using caustic soda instead. Has anyone tried it?
Ive seen it works a treat on wood but im a bit worried about putting it on my alloys in case it damages them, and I dont know how long to leave it on for.
Any advice is greatly appreciated.

[tiger99]

DO NOT EVER USE CAUSTIC SODA ON ALLOY WHEELS!

It will very seriously etch the surface, and cause millions of stress raisers, making the wheels totally unsafe. And, it will evolve far more hydrogen gas than it takes to blow you up. Hydrogen ignites very readily, even static electricity will set it off.

[The Principal]

As above - defiantly

[mattbeddow]

Fair enough.
I know all about the dangers associated with NaOH and Hydrogen I just no nothing about alloy wheels so didn't realise the soda would react quite so readily with them.
Guess ill just have to give nitromors a shot then unless anyone knows of anything better?

[ANON]

nitromors has always been pretty much useless!! you want paramose non water based stripper. don't worry about it being like water

[JustSteve]

Yup, nitromorse has changed so it doesn't burn your skin... What p*sseys couldn't handle a bit of paint stripper?!

It still works, you just have to be patient. It takes days to dry, so what I do is cover the wheels, wait a few hours, coat again and leave over night.... Usually this is pretty much enough. I rub it off with wire wool.

[Terry1987]

I always found the most effective mothod of using Nitromores was to coat the item, then stand back ad turn your face away while you pour a kettle of boiling water over it

[mike.]

With mines I put a thick layer on, left it for 20-30, came back and added more and worked it in to all the bubbling paint with a stiff brush and then left them again.

Then to finally remove it, I used a jet washer. Worked well, but don't do this without eye protection.

[mattbeddow]

I always found the most effective mothod of using Nitromores was to coat the item, then stand back ad turn your face away while you pour a kettle of boiling water over it

What does pouring a kettle of water on it do? surely that would wash it off?

[Terry1987]

For some reason the boiling water activates the paint stripper, I don't know the chemistry behind it but BOY does it sizzle up!

[HARRYSPADGE]

What you need is some of this,

http://www.ebay.co.u...f#ht_4393wt_698

It's very good stuff, probably better than the original Nitromors which was very good.
You should be able to get some from your local bodyshop supplier also.

[minimissionary]

B&Q own brand is just as good, if not better than Nitromorse, in case you can't get any of the above.

[minikidx14]

methylene chloride is a very good paint stripper.

[tiger99]

I think that Nitromors used to be based on methylene chloride, and yes it was very effective. But all such chemicals need to be handled very carefully, and nowadays it is difficult to obtain anything which is sufficiently aggressive. Yet, strangely, B&Q are allower to sell drain cleaner which is said to be 93% sulphuric acid, and should never, ever be in the hands of the general public, as it needs protective clothing, gloves, facemask and lots of other precautions if used in industry. The Health and Safety laws seem to be applied very irregularly.

[mattbeddow]

Its strange how the same chemicals in the same concentrations have totally different rules depending on where theyre used.
Ive used chemicals at school where labcoat and goggles was all that was needed.
At uni, in the labs, the same chemicals you need to use in a fume cupboard with gloves and coat and goggles.
In industry, your not even allowed to handle them,
yet you can buy them in your local hardware store no bother