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Metal finishing Q&As since 1989

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Refinishing an old metal floor lamp

I just acquired an old metal floor lamp. It has been painted a few times, but under the paint it appears to be brass. How do I go about removing the paint and bringing back it's original appearance? Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

S. Stanford
- New York

Solvents of almost any sort will not effect brass because it is a metal (note: we're talking a lamp here, not a stressed aerospace part). So you can use turpentine [on eBay or Amazon] or whatever solvent attacks the paint.

From the standpoint of dissolving paint without affecting metal, the best solvent is methylene chloride, Aircraft Stripper, but it is noxious and toxic and should not be used without goggles [on eBay or Amazon], rubber gloves [on eBay or Amazon], and excellent (outdoors) ventilation.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey

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