Stripping paint from a tin ceiling?

I would give Peel Away a try. It's a heavy paste that should work on the ceiling. The paper should help in keeping it in place. Citristrip is more of a gel great for vertical surfaces. I don't know how it would work on a ceiling.

I would think paint striper would be the best. Sanding will damage the tiles.

Not sure I would attempt this at all, sounds like it would be raining stripper of some sort onto what ever is below, a hot mess. Also, not sure why you have to remove the paint from the tiles...this might be remedied by buying new peel and stick ceiling tiles made of Styrofoam, Amazon has them and can be cut and painted (if need be).

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=styrofoam+peel+and+stick+ceiling+tiles&ref=nb_sb_noss_2

Here's a post that might help - https://homeguides.sfgate.com/refinish-copper-tin-ceiling-28157.html

I would give the Peel Away a try. I read where someone used it on ceiling medallions and had a great result.

There is a good discussion on this topic here:

https://forums.anandtech.com/threads/best-way-to-strip-a-tin-ceiling.2467601/

Remove old layers of paint by applying paint stripper paste to the ceiling with a plastic putty knife. Cover the paste with peel-away paper made for paint removal. Follow the manufacturer's directions on the stripper container regarding how long to leave the paper on.

I've not redone a tin ceiling but I have used paint stripper on metal. I used Citri-Strip by applyiing it with a plastic scraper, then covering the stripper with plastic wrap or even a large garbage bag. Let the stripper do it's work by leaving on the painted surface and then remove the wrap and scrape well with the plastic scraper. It may take one or two more applications to get all the paint off. The ceilling will be especially challenging because of gravity but it can be done.

here is info for you https://www.hunker.com/13416857/how-to-remove-paint-from-tin

you could also strip it and leave it metal color

http://homeguides.sfgate.com/refinish-copper-tin-ceiling-28157.html

https://www.google.com/search?q=paste+paint+remover&ie=&oe=

I found this, which may help: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mbsnqN9fsg

Hi Michael. I did some reading on this topic. I have not personally ever stripped a tin ceiling. I read that a stripper called Strypeeze was not thick enough to use on an upside-down surface. Citristrip was less caustic and supposedly strips with a very thin layer, did not work well. RediStrip, a paste like remover that works upside-down and is not caustic, but is very expensive and did not work well on the pressed detail of the tin. So, here's where things get crazy. It is recommended to use Easy Off Oven Cleaner to remove the peeling paint. Crazy, right? I read that it worked very well. Spray it on and scrape it off with a plastic scraper. That will remove most of the paint. Again, spray it on and scrape it off with a plastic scraper. That should remove the rest of the paint but you may still have some left in the scroll work. So, spray it on again and use a wire brush to clean off the details. This recommendation is really outside the box. But that's what we're about here on Home Talk. Good luck Michael and Happy Holidays.

Oh Gee, I have seen so many attempts to remove messes from walls and cielings. It is easier to just tear it down to the studs and install new gyp-rock. Seriously... Then at the same time you can inspect, upgrade and relocate electrical light fixtures etc. Good luck

Tin Ceiling tile is not that expensive. I would replace it.

Take it down and send it out to sand-blaster. (ask around auto body shops)

Can it come down? It would be so much easier to scrape and not have your arms overhead

Hi Michael, hope this helps you out,

While looking for info on this same topic, I came across a snippet on another board about using Easy-Off Oven Cleaner...

We had tried to use a few other things (Strypeeze, not thick enough to adhere to an upside-down surface; Citrustrip, less caustic and supposedly strips with a very thin layer - didn't work well; RediStrip, a paste like remover that works upside down and is not caustic, but is very expensive and did not work well on the pressed detail of the Tin)

After seeing the tip about oven cleaner, we decided to give it a try... it was just short of amazing compared to the other products "designed" for paint-removal...

Our ceiling had at least 5 coats of paint, the first one having been put on around 1910 or so... The first application of oven cleaner completely loosened the top 2 heavy layers of paint. After cleaning that with a plastic putty knife, another application of oven cleaner was applied that loosened most of the rest of the paint which we then took off again with the plastic putty knife. There was still quite a bit of paint left in the recesses of the decorative tin, so we applied one more application of oven cleaner and used a stiff plastic bristle brush to get into the crevices. Then wiped the whole surface with damp rags to remove the residue. It came out beautifully.

I would use a biodegradable paint remover.

I haven’t used that product but I’m very interested because my tin ceilings in the kitchen need this done. Please post when you have this project done. Thanks!

You can try to replace them

replace them or use paint thinner