Ceiling nightmare

I would save myself a lot of work by getting the ceiling as smooth as you can, then planking it. Wood makes a beautiful ceiling.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=wood+on+ceiling

So, the ceiling tiles were glued on instead of in a frame or grid. I would pick a more modern ceiling tile, or build a cross-cross frame to hold paneling or Sheetrock for the ceiling. In an extreme case, you could tear out the plywood where the tiles were glued and start over with new plywood, insulation, Sheetrock, bedding and tape, and more reflective light and paint. Best wishes ☺️

cover kit up.....https://www.pinterest.com/explore/ceiling-ideas/?lp=true

Wow, you've got your work cut out for you. Another technique is to scrape them off and then sand the remains of the glue off. Another technique is to get a fishing wire and wind it around a wooden dowel on either end like a garrote and get that wire in an edge and then saw the wire back and forth to remove... another way is to have one of these.... maybe you can rent one at an equipment rental place.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6VKWUpMuxg

Have you tried using a putty tool to pry it off? If the glue will not come off without damaging the dry wall you will have a heck of a spackling and sanding job to do before you can repaint. I just know that wall paper can be just as bad. I empathize w/you.

I would be intimidated by all that over-head work before actually installing a ceiling. What about the 2 x 4 plastic panels that replicate tin ceilings? They come in a lot of patterns including modern if the typical tin pattern is not your taste, and could probably be installed over top of the mess.

That's the way fiber ceiling tiles were put up in the 50's, 60's, and 70's. A blob of construction adhesive in the center of the tile and slap it up. Two sides had a tongue and opposing sides had a groove. Remove a lot of those in my day. Sharpened the edge of a 6" drywall knife and cut through the adhesive scraping it off. Then patched the ceiling, sanded, primed, and painted. Seems like a lot of work but once you get a rhythm going it goes fast.

I like Sharon's Idea using the Multi Tool. Wish we had those back in the day. Don't know how you can cover it since it isn't smooth.

A roofing scraper and warm water from a bug sprayer pump will take those off or you can leave it outside on a cold day.

10 degrees or colder and the roofing scraper will pop those babies right off.

Yay!!! Send us a picture when you get it all done! I love planked ceilings, wish I had one!