Asked on Nov 26, 2016
Remove chalk paint from metal
by Cheryl
+6
I painted one coat of chalk paint on my 2 beautiful wire candle holder sconces. The paint clumped up bad especially in crevices and round ends (round holed areas) where I reattach the crystal hanging glass prisms (?). I cannot get the paint off as I soaked it in water, tried Paint remover (now it's really stuck) I've even tried wire brushes and sand paper 60 grit. The pieces are too small and tight to get to good. Should I soak it in murat ice acid at this point? HELP
Correction: muraticAcid
You could try something like citristrip, see this link (http://www.pbjstories.com/2011/09/stripping-wood-furniture-my-how-to.html) or a more potent chemical stripper. It looks like you have nothing to lose at this point. I'd use a gel formula rather than liquid for less mess. Good luck! (I did check and it seems that people have used citristrip on metals. Her link was just the best with pics, though the project was wood.)
Have it sand blasted
I read an article here on Hometalk not too long ago about how to remove paint using saran wrap. Generously coat everything with gel Citristrip then cover it all completely with saran wrap. Wait 24 hours before removing the saran wrap. In the article it said the paint literally powders and you can brush it off. With the little crevices, one of those tiny wire brushes that look like a toothbrush might just do the trick! Do let us know how it all works out for you. That's such a neat piece you have!!!
A heat gun might work too. Use a old tooth brush as the paint melts to get it in the crevices but be sure to wipe the brush clean from gunk. You don't want to transfer it back on. I'm just surprised you couldn't get the chalk paint off with water.
Here are some ideas that might help https://chascrazycreations.com/diys/re-purpose-up-cycle/furniture/
Use Degreaser
To remove chalk paint from metal, it is best to use a degreaser and then a solution of baking soda and water. Degreasers are typically used to remove paint, grease, and another residue from metal surfaces.
Steps to Follow1) At first, pour degreaser into the metal surface and let it sit for several minutes before scrubbing off with a brush or rag.
2) Rinse the metal surface thoroughly with clean water, then allow it to dry completely before proceeding.
3) Apply paint stripper in one of two ways:
a) Dilute 1 part paint stripper with 10 parts water and stir until smooth, then apply this mixture directly onto the metal surface using a soft cloth or sponge; b) Dilute 3 parts paint stripper with 1 part acetone (or lacquer thinner), then apply this mixture directly onto the metal surface using a soft cloth or sponge.
This is definitely not for novice painters but that doesn’t mean you can’t do this technique yourself. You just need to be very careful while working over small areas at a time.