What’s the best way to remove latex paint from brass hinges?

[Louis Brandt]

Hello,

I’ve got several brass hinges that have two or three layers of latex (no oil) paint on them. I’ve tried soaking them in mineral spirits, but that hasn’t done much good. I’ve also tried soaking them in vinegar (which is a mild acid), and that hasn’t done much either.

I’d prefer not to have to use a wire brush on them, because it will scuff them up, so is there any solution that I could soak them in that would remove the paint without my having to risk scratching them up?

Thanks,
Louis

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Louis,

I have had good luck using a sharp utility knife. At the very edges I am able to cut through the paint and then I can peel it off using my fingers and scraping it with my finger nails or the edge of the utility knife blade. I don't know of any liquid that will strip latex paint unless it would be one of the commercial paint solvents.

[Jamie Buxton]

Lacquer thinner will attack latex, but not the brass.

[Bill White]

Denatured alcohol will do the job.
Bill

[Keith Kline]

Crock pot and water

[Jason Roehl]

Originally Posted by Jamie Buxton

Lacquer thinner will attack latex, but not the brass.

Bingo.

Lacquer thinner, xylene, brush&roller cleaner, acetone, methylene chloride, MEK.

Or heat.

[Jeff Todd]

water and vinegar mix in a pot boil the water drop the hinges in for a bit... paint should come right off.

[Jason White]

Soak them in a crock-pot (on low) full of soapy water overnight. The paint will come right off with barely any scraping.

Jason

Originally Posted by Louis Brandt

Hello,

I’ve got several brass hinges that have two or three layers of latex (no oil) paint on them. I’ve tried soaking them in mineral spirits, but that hasn’t done much good. I’ve also tried soaking them in vinegar (which is a mild acid), and that hasn’t done much either.

I’d prefer not to have to use a wire brush on them, because it will scuff them up, so is there any solution that I could soak them in that would remove the paint without my having to risk scratching them up?

Thanks,
Louis

[Peter Quinn]

Rapid brush cleaner works pretty good. Soak for a few hours, wipe lightly with a synthetic wool pad. Any methelyne chloride based stripper will work, and that orange stuff might help.

[Jason Hanko]

This might work...

[Ron Bontz]

There used to be a product called "Goof off". It was made to remove latex paint.

[Jeff Bratt]

Originally Posted by Ron Bontz

There used to be a product called "Goof off". It was made to remove latex paint.

Still is a line of products - http://www.goof-off.com/
The original is mostly acetone and xylene...

[Billy Trinh]

Funny I needed to do the exact same thing for 8 old hinges. Used xylene and a scraper razor blade. damped all the hinges with xylene and just use razor blade to scrape the paints them off. Paint pretty much just slide off the hinges

[Lee Schierer]

Get some citrus based paint remover and drop the hinges in a paper cup full for a hour or so. The paint should come right off with a soft bristle brush. Once the paint is off you will want to polish them up and apply a couple of coats of clear lacquer to prevent tarnishing.

[Garth Keel]

soapy water, crock pot on high overnight.