Best way to remove paint from tools?

[fordgasm]

My dad had an old set of 3 vise grips made by Peterson from the late 60's. They have a fair amount of black spray paint on them from maybe 10 years ago. Not very thick just sprinkled on. Is the best way to just soak them in paint thinner to remove the paint or is there a better solution?

 

[4x4gearhead]

Ive let mine soak in paint thinner. Last fall I had a project where a bunch of my welding clamps and vise grips got covered in primer/paint, I just let them soak for half a day and it did the trick.

 

[davesnothere]

Why? What's wrong with paint on vise grips?

 

[mikebramel]

vapor steamer, wont damage the finish either

 

[ihatelaramie]

I had the same problem. We have a good sized tumbler at work so I used that. It worked great; no more paint, no rust, nice silky smooth finish. But, barring that, paint thinner would work pretty well. I heard oven cleaner does quite a number on paint as well.

 

[RV Smoot]

When I was rehabbing a old house, and needed to get layers of old paint of hardware, I put the parts in a slow cooker. Cover with water and a couple drops of dishwashing liquid. A day or two later, the paint just falls off.
I thought it was pretty easy to clean hardware this way. Tools should work.

 

[Zeke]

In older times we used methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) to clean spray guns inside and out. Lacquer thinner and acetone work. Mineral spirits normally doesn't.

For a misting of paint, soaking in lye doesn't work all that well either. Put some old painted hinges in lye and presto. Except for the last little bit of gummy residue. Back to the lacquer thinner.

 

[BrokewrenchLS1]

In older times we used methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) to clean spray guns inside and out. Lacquer thinner and acetone work. Mineral spirits normally doesn't.

For a misting of paint, soaking in lye doesn't work all that well either. Put some old painted hinges in lye and presto. Except for the last little bit of gummy residue. Back to the lacquer thinner.

I had to use MEK for the first time a couple days ago to prep a few guns for paint. To say it's one of the worst-smelling chemicals I've ever had to deal with would be exceedingly generous.

I like using a media blaster with baking soda, and a quick dunk in high-percentage IPA or some acetone to get the soda residue off.

 

[Midnight_America]

If not detrimental to the particulat tool and if you don't mind the smell and the extra work, I sometimes soak the tool in mineral spirits. It either completely dissolves the paint or softens it enough to rub or scrape it away. Steam also works great and is much less obnoxious than using solvents.

 

[chepe]

When I get paint on my tools I just spray them down with some acetone and with them off quickly

 

[AndyA]

Carb cleaner. I like Berryman's B12 although the walmart house brand seems to work fine also.

 

[jetmech09]

MEK + gray scotch brite (if needed). MEK is powerful stuff.

 

[Shocker]

Permatex Gasket Remover Spray. Melts even powder coating off.

 

[camarotoolman]

Soak in paint stripper, its messie though.