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Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Pine Beach, NJ
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for Metal Finishing since 1989
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Removing Paint from Copper Ship Lanterns
Q. I am in possession of two copper coal oil ships lanterns that have been around my family for about 50 years, they were stored outside in a garage and some spilled paint managed to seep underneath then. I want to hang these lanterns in my living room but don't want the bottoms hanging there with all the paint on them for every one to see! How can I remove the paint?
Thank You,
Home upgrade - Qualicum Beach, British Columbia, Canada
2006
A. As soon as you remove the paint, the color of the copper will be different, but in a decade or so, they should be the same.
Talk to a real live paint store, rather than a paint department for the proper paint remover. It is a nasty chemical, so work outside and follow the instructions carefully.
You might, if the paint is thick, be able to very carefully get under the paint with an
Exacto hobby knife
⇦this on
eBay
or
Amazon [affil links] and peel most of it off.
You can very carefully and slowly ash the paint with a micro torch
⇦this on
eBay
or
Amazon [affil links] from a hardware type store. These are small and use lighter fluid, butane gas.
I would not bake it or try to sand it off.
- Navarre, Florida
2006
A. Try acetone ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] Warning! highly Flammable! or 1 part ammonia ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] /2 partsacetone ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] Warning! highly Flammable! mixture! When finished rinse it well! Good luck!
Goran Budija- Cerovski vrh Croatia
2006
A. If the lantern will not be damaged by water, you can put it in an old pan of water and boil it for 30 minutes or more and the paint should peel off. Some people add some baking soda [in bulk on eBay or Amazon [affil links] or TSP [trisodium phosphate ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] ] to the water to help the process. If you have recesses with paint in them, carefully use toothpicks or popsicle sticks to get it out to avoid scratching the copper. Do Not use the pan for food preparation after this.
Rod Walters- Des Moines, Iowa
2006
A. The simplest thing to do is to purchase the lowest price stripper ... semi paste or liquid ... and strip the lanterns just like furniture ... rinse with water .. you will have very little color change since they have been stored outside and are no doubt rather dark.
Cheers!
- Wilmington, North Carolina
2006
Q. I have two old ship lanterns a port and starboard someone sand blasted them and I was trying to look for the right paint color to paint them can anyone help.
Greg Janikpainter - Chicopee, Massachusetts
2007
Q. What is the best way to strip several coats of paint from copper heat vents. My house was built in 1947 and has those ornate heat vents fitted into the wall and I would like to strip off the paint and put a clear coat of varnish to prevent tarnishing.
Judith spencerhome owner - peterborough Ontario. Canada
2007
A. I'm dealing with two solid copper lamp shades from the 30s with coats of enamel and latex on them. Your register grates may have been copper plated but are, surely, not solid copper. That was when our whole nation was reeling from WWII and copper was precious! I'd remove them and find a refinisher with a tank and pay someone else to do the dirty work.
It will be a thin plating and caustic solutions may eat the copper off! Have him hang a new penny by a copper wire in the tank and see what's left after 24 hours. Any penny minted after 1982 is zinc with a thin copper plating. If the copper isn't destroyed you have a winner!
Cheers,
Industrial Finishing Instructor, Appalachian State University - Vilas, North Carolina
August 1, 2021
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