Paint Strippers

Paint Strippers at MTN Shop UK

A paint stripper is the chemical alternative to sanding or burning off old paint and varnish, and the right choice when the substrate cannot be sanded back (intricate mouldings, period plasterwork, ornamental ironwork, carved furniture, panelled doors with detail that sanding would destroy). Strippers soften the existing finish so it can be scraped off cleanly, leaving the substrate intact and ready for the next coat. Nitromors is the British reference brand for paint stripping, used by UK decorators, joiners, antique furniture restorers, period property owners and committed DIY users since the 1830s.

Nitromors All-Purpose Paint & Varnish Remover

The All-Purpose range is the standard reference for general decorating and DIY paint stripping work: removing old emulsion, gloss, satinwood, masonry paint and exterior varnish from doors, window frames, skirting, radiators, garden furniture and ornamental ironwork. The current formulation is DCM free (reformulated after the 2010 EU restriction on dichloromethane in consumer paint strippers), water washable for clean up, and works through multiple paint layers in 15-30 minutes per application. Available sizes:

• Nitromors All-Purpose Paint & Varnish Remover 375ml (£8.94): small touch-up work, single door or single window frame.
• Nitromors All-Purpose Paint & Varnish Remover 500ml Aerosol (£9.82): the spray format for vertical surfaces, complex shapes, ornamental ironwork and railings where a brushable liquid would run off.
• Nitromors All-Purpose Paint & Varnish Remover 750ml (£14.03): typical job size for a complete door or full window plus frame.
• Nitromors All-Purpose Paint & Varnish Remover 2 litre (£26.99): trade size for larger decorating jobs, multi-window stripping, full radiator sets.
• Nitromors All-Purpose Paint & Varnish Remover 4 litre (£51.07): contract size for full property restoration, period property work, full panelled door sets.

Nitromors Craftsman's Paint, Varnish & Lacquer Remover

The Craftsman's range is the higher specification stripper for fine joinery, antique restoration, French polish removal, lacquer stripping and complex multi-coat finishes that the All-Purpose may not fully penetrate. The formulation is more aggressive on tough lacquers and aged finishes, and the gel consistency clings to vertical and detailed surfaces for longer dwell time. Available sizes:

• Nitromors Craftsman's Paint, Varnish & Lacquer Remover 750ml (£13.09): the standard antique restoration size for furniture and fine joinery work.
• Nitromors Craftsman's Paint, Varnish & Lacquer Remover 2 litre (£29.15): the trade restoration size for larger pieces and multi-item work.

What changed with the Nitromors reformulation

The Nitromors formulation was changed in 2010 following the EU restriction on dichloromethane (DCM) in consumer paint strippers, on health grounds. Older trade users sometimes report the new formulation as slower acting than the original, but the chemistry is materially safer to use and the dwell times have been adjusted in the product instructions to compensate. For most stripping jobs the new formulation works well within the same workflow: apply, wait, scrape, wash. For the toughest aged lacquer and multi-coat industrial finishes, the Craftsman's range gives stronger action than the All-Purpose.

How to use Nitromors paint stripper

The basic workflow is consistent across both products:

• Prepare the area: work outdoors or in a well ventilated space, mask off adjacent surfaces, lay dust sheets to catch scrapings.
• Wear PPE: chemical resistant gloves (nitrile, not latex), eye protection, and a respirator or at minimum a dust mask for organic vapours.
• Apply generously: brush on a thick even coat with a cheap disposable brush (do not use a good Purdy®, the stripper will destroy it). Do not spread thin, the stripper needs depth to work through the paint layers.
• Wait: 15-30 minutes for the All-Purpose, up to 60 minutes for the Craftsman's, depending on paint type, age and number of coats. The paint will bubble and lift.
• Scrape: with a paint scraper at 30-45° angle, working with the grain on wood. Multiple coats may need a second application.
• Wash off: rinse the surface with clean water (All-Purpose is water washable) or white spirit (some Craftsman's residue), then allow to dry fully before the next coat goes on.
• Dispose responsibly: contaminated scrapings and rinse water should not go down domestic drains; collect and dispose per local council guidance for hazardous waste.

When to use chemical stripper versus heat gun or sanding

• Chemical stripper: the right choice on intricate mouldings, carved details, panelled doors with raised profiles, ornamental ironwork, period plasterwork, antique furniture, anywhere sanding would damage the substrate or burning off would risk fire (timber buildings, near insulation).
• Heat gun: the fast choice on flat large areas where the surface can take the heat (modern doors, window frames in good condition), but creates fumes from old paint (potentially lead in pre-1960s paint) and risks scorching.
• Sanding: the right choice when only the top layer is poor and the substrate is sound flat timber that can be sanded back. The Faithfull or Flexovit abrasive range covers the grit sizes needed.
• Lead paint warning: pre-1960s UK paint may contain lead. Chemical stripping is preferred to sanding or burning, which create lead dust or fumes. Test with a lead detection swab if uncertain.

Build your stripping setup

The Paint Strippers collection works alongside the rest of our paint and decorating range. Browse our Nitromors brand page, our paint brushes (use cheap disposable brushes for stripping, save your good Purdy® for finish coats), our primers and sealers for the coat after stripping and sanding, our fillers and prep range for surface repair, plus the wider paint and decorating category. PPE for chemical work is covered in our respiratory protection, eye protection and gloves ranges.

For trade orders, period property restoration projects or contract decorating supplies of the Nitromors range, request a quote and our team will come back with availability.