O/T Powder Coated Helical Staircase

[mikef]

We have a metal helical staircase in the house and I assumed it was just painted a cream colour.

 

However the paint is now beginning to flake and wear off – from a distance it still looks OK but close up it looks awful.  Where the paint has disappeared, it is beautifully powder coated in white – so I really can’t understand why some numptie chose to paint over the powder coat.

 

The design is quite intricate and I started to try and scrape the paint off but:

 

1.   That’s going to take forever and

 

2.    I’m concerned that however carefully I do it I’m going to damage the surface of the powder coat.

 

I’m thinking of applying paint stripper but don’t know what that will do to the surface of the powder coat.

 

Does anyone know the best way of getting paint off a powder coated surface??

[Captain Colonial]

The only way to do it properly and have it finished before we all die would probably get it blasted back and re-powder coated.  Paint stripper not likely to do a great or complete job (too many nooks and crannies), and same with a hot air gun.  All IMHO of course - sorry.

 

(BTW, if the radius of the staircase never increases, it's a helical staircase, not a spiral one.  Spirals always increase the radius outwards.  Pedantic - sorry again.)

[mikef]

Thanks Scott - original post sorted  

[Norman Verona]

I would remove it, get it sandblasted and either paint or powder coat.

 

Can't see much point in powder coating as it's not going to rust or get peppered by stones.

[jeff oakley]

I would take it out have it stripped by a mild abrasive. like walnut shells or such, then powder coat. The plus side of powder coat is the hardness and also it will stay brilliant white as opposed to the inevitable yellowing of paint.

[mikef]

Jeff - the problem is that it is already beautifully powder coated, it's just that some numptie chose to paint it at some time

 

Where the paint has worn/flaked off, the powder coat is in excellent condition.  Getting it out would be a nightmare that I'm really not prepared to contemplate.

 

I shall have a go with some paint stripper on a section that's not too visible and see if it affects the powder coat.

 

Thanks.

[Steve_Farrimond]

Sand blasting and powder coating are both surprisingly cheap to have done, the only problem is its removal.

[mikef]

Aye - there's the rub......................

[Dave]

Soda blasting might sort it out

even with a cheep Frost kit, its possible to strip off

1 layer of paint at a time so it should take the paint off and not touch the powder?