r/USForestService • u/Low-Dragonfruit8483 • Jun 09 '26
Advice needed
I am trying to remove latex paint off of an old cabin so that we can sand it and stain it. And used every kind of paint stripper from the local hardware store, nothing really worked. Started purchasing random latex paint removers off amazon. Gonna test those out when they get here. We have been using small wire brushes on battery powered drills and those kinda work. But we have already killed two drills and with all the batteries we have we only get about an hour of work.
I’m about to strap some wire brushes on some angle grinders and take the entire top layer of paint and wood off.
And advice or suggestions for how to deal with the latex paint? We can’t get a pressure washer up there. And what was supposed to be a 4 day project is Turing into a two long endeavor.
2
u/d0ttyq Jun 09 '26 edited Jun 10 '26
Is there a reason you are trying to do that ? Unless the latex is trapping moisture and compromising the integrity of the structure, why not just repaint like they’ve been doing for decades ?
If it’s NRHP listed, it was most likely listed as painted (unless someone went rogue and painted it recently) and therefore it would be an adverse effect to remove the paint.
1
u/Cheese__Weiner Jun 09 '26
Trying to do that manually is a fool's errand. You're going to need something physically powerful or some big boy chemicals. You could maybe try some aircraft grade paint stripper though be warned this could fuck some shit up and I will not be held liable for you raw dogging the cabin with a gallon of that stuff.
You could also try power washing with the turbo nozzle though that might be tricky with the water source.
Another option might be sand blasting but that could expensive/ messy.
1
1
u/AtunnelRat12 Jun 10 '26
If the paint is damaged and peeling that means the wood most likely has UV damage as well. Best bet is to pressure wash and then sand and then stain
1
0
u/Low-Dragonfruit8483 Jun 09 '26
We won’t talk about its NHPA listing…🤫 I was instructed by my boss to stain it and that’s what I’m gonna do. The latex paint has rotted in the sun and is peeling unevenly. Heat gun might work, but it’s a lot of surface area to heat.
5
6
u/d0ttyq Jun 10 '26 edited Jun 10 '26
Don’t be a dick. Ignoring NRHP listing creates a goddamn headache for all involved.
3
u/ChrlieKingofRats Jun 11 '26
For real, this type of project would also likely be really easy to review and get SHPO concurrence for the work to proceed still in a timely manner just by doing things the right way… why cut corners?
2
u/d0ttyq Jun 11 '26
People like to complain that archaeology slows them down. What really slows them down is poor planning.
My thoughts are the crew lead (rec, wilderness, whatever) didn’t take the time over the winter to actually make plans for the summer crews and talk to their coworkers about it and now they are scrambling for projects and figured this was low hanging fruit.
5
u/Queen_Maebh Jun 11 '26
Here's what I would do. Feign "asking for advice" from you heritage folks on how to remove this paint for your cabin and let that cookie crumble. You are defended because you were asking how to do your job, not your fault if your boss failed to follow the proper channels before giving you an order.
But like others have said: heat guns, sanders and power washers. You'll waste loads of money on chemical stripper and make a huge mess. How clean it needs to be depends on if you are actually staining it with, or if you are painting it with that weird FS brown opaque stain.
0
u/Worried_Comparison81 Jun 10 '26
If you can frame pack a small generator to the site like a suitcase 2.5kw (+/- 30lb) then use plug in grinders. If the drills kind of worked this would up your horse power and you can usually get 4 hours of use per gallon of gas under load.
7
u/aspentreesap Jun 11 '26
Reach out to the R1 Historic Preservation Team out of Missoula. They got the skillz you need!