The cleanest way to strip old paint from a door, a grill or a piece of furniture is to let a chemical stripper soften it, then lift it off with a scraper or a wire brush, rather than grinding or burning it. Pintyplus Paint Stripper is a spray you apply in a generous layer, leave for 1 to 15 minutes depending on the paint, then scrape away. Thick, old or many-layered paint may need a second application. Afterwards, wash the surface with soap and water, and on steel, prime it straight away before rust starts.
The short version
- Product: Pintyplus Paint Stripper Spray, 400 ml
- Removes: alkyd, acrylic, cellulose, vinyl, oil, polyester and polyurethane paints and epoxy varnish
- Dwell time: 1 to 15 minutes, depending on the paint type, thickness and number of layers
- Lift it: plastic scraper on wood, scraper and wire brush on metal
- Finish: wash with soap and water, dry, then prime bare metal promptly
Why use a spray stripper instead of sanding or a heat gun?
Sanders and grinders work on flat surfaces but struggle with carved doors, grill bars, corners and mouldings, and they make a lot of dust. Heat guns can scorch wood. A spray stripper reaches into grooves and around bars, and softens every layer it touches, so you can lift the paint off without cutting into the wood or steel underneath.
Pintyplus describes its Paint Stripper as a super active, low-toxicity paint remover suitable for DIY, which can be washed off with water. It works on most common paint types, from old oil-based enamel to acrylics and polyurethane varnish.
Which jobs is it good for?
- Old wooden doors and window frames with years of enamel built up in layers
- Iron grills, gates and railings where paint is cracking and rust is starting underneath
- Sheesham and other solid wood furniture you want to refinish
- Metal parts before welding or repainting
Pintyplus also lists it as a decarbonizing and cleaning agent for engines, injectors, carburettors and mechanical seals.
Our product page warns that paint strippers are chemically aggressive and advises checking the surface before full application. Be careful with plastics, veneers, glued joints and anything you aren’t sure about. Test a small hidden spot first.
How do you strip paint step by step?
1. Set up safely
Work outdoors or in a well-ventilated space, as Pintyplus recommends. Wear chemical-resistant gloves and eye protection. Lay plastic sheet or newspaper under the work to catch softened paint. Keep children and pets away.
2. Remove hardware
Take off handles, hinges and locks where you can. Mask glass and anything you want to keep.
3. Shake and spray generously
Shake the can vigorously for one minute after you hear the mixing balls. Spray a generous, even layer over the paint. A thin mist dries before it has done its work.
4. Wait 1 to 15 minutes
The paint will wrinkle and blister as it softens. Thin, modern paint may be ready in a minute or two. Old, thick layers need longer. Test by pushing a scraper into a small area: if it lifts down to the surface, it’s ready.
5. Scrape it off
On wood, use a plastic scraper and work with the grain so you don’t gouge the surface. On metal, use a scraper for flat areas and a wire brush on bars, corners and textured parts.
6. Repeat where needed
If lower layers remain, spray a second layer only where it is needed and repeat. Pintyplus recommends a second layer for the toughest, oldest paints.
7. Wash and dry
Wash the surface with soap and water, as Pintyplus instructs, to remove residue. Let it dry completely before you apply anything new.
What should you do after stripping?
On steel
Bare steel starts to rust quickly, especially in humid weather. Prime it the same day. For gates and grills, Pintyplus Zinc Primer Spray gives a zinc-rich base before your finish coat.
On wood
Once dry, sand lightly to smooth any raised grain, dust off, then finish with your chosen paint or varnish.
Disposal
Collect the scraped paint and used paper in a bag and put it out with the rubbish. Don’t wash lumps of stripped paint down the drain.
What should you plan for in Pakistani weather?
In summer heat, the stripper evaporates faster, so work in the shade and in smaller sections, and scrape each section as soon as it is ready. In the monsoon, stripped steel can flash-rust within hours, so time the job for a dry day and have primer ready. A carved door or a set of grills is a full day’s work, so start early.
Common questions
How many cans do I need for a door?
It depends on how many layers of paint are on it. Old doors with thick enamel often need a second application in places. For a full door, both sides, plan on more than one can.
Can I use it on plastic?
Be careful. Strippers are chemically aggressive, and some plastics can be damaged. Test first.
Is it the same as graffiti remover?
They work in a similar way. Our guide to removing graffiti and wall-chalking covers the smaller Graffiti Remover can for walls and shutters.
Can I leave it on overnight?
No. Pintyplus gives an action time of 1 to 15 minutes. Scrape when the paint has lifted, then reapply if needed.
Where to buy in Lahore and across Pakistan
Pintyplus Paint Stripper Spray is ₨ 2,995 for a 400 ml can. You can pick it up from our shop at Sohail Centre, LG 8, Dil Muhammad Road, Garhi Shahu, Lahore, Monday to Saturday from 8:30 AM to 10:00 PM, or order online for delivery anywhere in Pakistan.
Not sure which one you need? Send a photo on WhatsApp to 0321 999 3919 and we’ll tell you.
More on preparation: Primers & Surface Preparation