Removing paint from a roof (sandy stuff)

[Doodlebug]

Hi all,

 

A relatively boring post today i'm afraid.

 

I need to do something with our roof - when we first bought the boat I stripped the sides down to bare steel using a scraper and painted it up carefully and has been trouble free for 4 years. I couldn't do the roof since the paint seemed to have baked on so made do and having added some grit to some cream paint the roof looked pretty good.

 

I made two mistakes though. One was colouring it cream. The other was adding the grit.

 

The paint goes green after each winter due to the grit giving good surface area for stuff to grow and the cream paint makes it show up badly. So each year I scrub it down in spring and repaint it.

 

Last years paint job is flaking off in places and the roof is starting to look worse for wear.

 

I tried yesterday using a angle grinder and wire brush to prep for painting and didn't do a great job. I'm going to do it properly and take it back to steel.

 

I'm wondering what tool to use. I hate sanding and don't want to invest in a scabbler. I may be able to use a chisel in places to get rid of the paint but wondered about using one of these to get most of the stuff off:

 

http://www.screwfix.com/p/tungsten-carbide-metal-grinding-disc-115x22mm/64298

 

 

Looks pretty robust and wonder whether if used lightly it will cut through the paint layers enough that a scraper will finish the job? It says it can be used on bricks so I doubt the sand in the paint will affect it and looks sharp enough to slice through the paint.

[ditchcrawler]

I saw someone using one of those vibrating multitools peeling paint off their roof

 

 

[Doodlebug]

I saw someone using one of those vibrating multitools peeling paint off their roof

 

 

I have one of those! DId it look like it was working. They do a paint scraping tool which might be worth investing in.

[ditchcrawler]

I have one of those! DId it look like it was working. They do a paint scraping tool which might be worth investing in.

He was taking it off in strips, of course I don't know how well it was stuck down

[IDS]

If the underlyingpaint job is in good nick then hire a scabbler for the day and be done with the job in a few hours. If you have rust under the paint then a scraper will work quite well.

[koukouvagia]

I've used an old fashioned blow lamp and scraper for a similar job. Very fast and effective.

[WotEver]

Or use one of these - but they're slow.

 

http://cirrus-systems.orderfullfillment.co.uk/7-abrasive-disks

[Phil Ambrose]

I gave used Flap Discs in my angle grinder to very good effect.

Phil

[nbfiresprite]

I gave used Flap Discs in my angle grinder to very good effect.

Phil

This is possible the best method to remove paint, Make sure you use a good face mask, not a cheap tatland job. Check the wind direction as well. Last thing you want do is cover the boats next to you in your paint dust. Cover your hair as well. Getting the paint dust of of your hair is no easy job.

[Phil Ambrose]

This is possible the best method to remove paint, Make sure you use a good face mask, not a cheap tatland job. Check the wind direction as well. Last thing you want do is cover the boats next to you in your paint dust. Cover your hair as well. Getting the paint dust of of your hair is no easy job.

I know. (don't ask me how I know this)

Phil

[nbfiresprite]

I know. (don't ask me how I know this)

Phil

You met our green goblin Darien then? He end up having to shave his head.

[Bee]

I had a similar problem. Flap discs and angle grinder was the only way. I didn't have green hair though, I looked like some mad red haired Scottish football hooligan.

[Mitchellmoxo]

Use a blow torch to bubble the paint then scrape away I found this to be the quickest method

[pquinn]

I saw someone using one of those vibrating multitools peeling paint off their roof

 

 

This has worked for me.I got one in lidl [i think] But you need to keep the blades sharp.

[The Lockie]

Well worth )nvesting in a scabbler our 60 took 3 days to get half the roof to bare metal they were bloody lng hard days too!!!

 

The other half with the scabbler took 4 hours

 

Depends on how much you value your time i suppose

[pquinn]

Hey! Lockie, how big of a scabbler did you use and does it make much noise?

[Phil Ambrose]

Well worth )nvesting in a scabbler our 60 took 3 days to get half the roof to bare metal they were bloody lng hard days too!!!

 

The other half with the scabbler took 4 hours

 

Depends on how much you value your time i suppose

[smileypete]

Seem to remember with scabblers to remove paint with grit/sand, it was mentioned to get one with tungsten 'stars' on the head.

[WotEver]

Seem to remember with scabblers to remove paint with grit/sand, it was mentioned to get one with tungsten 'stars' on the head.

 

This site: http://www.brandontoolhire.co.uk/en/surface-preparation-tool-hire/143-rotary-scabbler.htmlstates to 'only' use the steel heads on steel and not the TCT.

 

Tony

[smileypete]

 

This site: http://www.brandontoolhire.co.uk/en/surface-preparation-tool-hire/143-rotary-scabbler.htmlstates to 'only' use the steel heads on steel and not the TCT.

 

Merely repeating what I read on the forum, seems to be two different views:

 

http://www.canalworld.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=48632

http://www.canalworld.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=57374&p=1090395

 

AIUI steel stars will wear more rapidly on a surface with sand in it, being an abrasive.

 

I think I would go with Refina's recommendation rather than the hire company as the latter doesn't specifically mention sand impregnated coatings.

 

(now do I get a greenie? )

 

cheers, Pete.

~smpt~

Edited April 21, 2016 by smileypete

[WotEver]

(now do I get a greenie? )

Nope... 'cos I'm on a phone

[The Lockie]

Hey! Lockie, how big of a scabbler did you use and does it make much noise?

Twas a 4" one about 5 cutting star discs per set and about 6 sets in the body of tue thing

 

Brilliant piece of kit. Go gently with it DONT press down on it we used ours in a drill and slowed it down a bit wouldnt want to use it in an angle grinder too much speed you would gouge the steelwork

[LeeW]

We did the roof on our 50ft boat with an angle grinder powered scabbler - did the whole roof in under two days. A pretty dusty and thankless task but got the job done much quicker than with sanding discs etc which we tried first. As to noisy we had the scabbler and a site genny under the sheds in Brentford, definitely the sort of task to shatter the peace and quite!

 

We hired the scabbler from Brandon tool hire - they have two nationwide and had to get it down from Middlesborough for us but despite that don't think it was too expensive.