Is there a fast way to strip a steel front door?

Gia
by Gia

I an stripping a steel front door, I'm using citrustrip from home depot but it seems to be taking too long, any shortcuts?


  6 answers
  • Melody Leanne Godfrey Melody Leanne Godfrey on Dec 06, 2019

    I would only use stripper on a wood surface. Steel doors are pre primed to take paint right away. If it’s got too many layers and you want to start from scratch, a heat gun and a scraper, or simply sand it with a palm sander or mouse sander to take it down to bare metal. Be absolutely sure to prime it well before repainting or it will rust. Wear a mask when sanding or heating to avoid breathing dust or fumes. Of all the front doors I’ve painted, my favorite paint is a urethane alkyd paint. They protect like an oil paint, spread and dry like latex, and clean up with water. I personally use Behr or Sherwin Williams. You definitely get what you pay for so get the best you can afford.

  • Cynthia H Cynthia H on Dec 06, 2019

    I would just sand it down. If you reach bare metal, use a metal primer before painting. Personally, I like Rustoleum paint for metal.

  • Janice Janice on Dec 06, 2019

    Gia, apply the Citristrip and then place a couple of giant plastic bags or even plastic wrap to keep the Citristrip moist longer. I think that will speed up the process for you.

  • Sharon Sharon on Dec 06, 2019

    I prefer the old toxic Kleen-Strip that was made for stripping metal myself, and I use steel wool to remove more of the paint after the first scraping. It will look like new metal. I then prime it with Rustoleum primer for metal, and give it a couple coats of Rustoleum Marine Paint.

  • Anna B Anna B on Dec 06, 2019

    My husband use steel wool in two different grades of coarseness, the coarsest one first and followed with fine sandpaper. He cleaned and dried the surface well and primed it with a metal primer followed by paint. He used Krylon spray paint. Krylon and Rustoleum spray paint come in a huge variety of colors. He did that 6 years ago and it still looks brand new.

  • William William on Dec 06, 2019

    No need to strip the door.

    https://www.hometalk.com/search/posts?filter=paint%20steel%20door