Expert: Eileen Cronk - 9/17/2008

Question
We used a soy based stripper to remove layers of paint on our 200 year old twelve over twelve windows.  Now, even after three very thorough washings with soap and water and two weeks of drying time followed by light sanding we can't paint them.  When we prime, stripper leaches up from the wood, especially end grain and joints and begins dissolving the primer from beneath.  The company (Soytek) has no answers for us. What can we do?

Answer
Hi Matt
Nice to hear from you.
You are obviously in a real bind there and not even the company that made this stuff can offer any help.
I will offer one suggestion (I have absolutely no idea if it will work), but it will only cost you $10.00 to find out.
Get a small can of MC stripper.
This one
http://www.jamestowndistributors.com/userportal/show_product.do?pid=1695&familyN...

Try to get this one but if you cannot then just make sure its an MC heavy duty stripper.
Apply a good heavy coat to a test area (end grain for sure).
Keep it wet by applying more if needed.
Wait 20 minutes. Rag this off then rub the wood with steel wool till its dry.
No afterwashing...do nothing else.
Let this test area dry a few hours then apply some paint and see the result.
I am hoping this will remove whatever is in the soy stripper thats causing this.
Matt it would be extremely helpful for future reference and for other folks if you would write back to me and let me know how this turns out..either way.
I have never heard of this happening before and I imagine no one has.
Kind Regards
Eileen