Have you ever stripped paint off bronze?

So this is embarrassing. Last September or October, I was on my way home and just happened to stop at a yard sale that was packing up. I saw a lamp shade that didn't match the lamp it was on but it was a perfect replacement for one of my own lamps. I thought the base was an inexpensive reproduction because it was painted in a glossy brown paint. The shade was perfect and I put the base on a shelf in the basement. Last night, while researching something else, I realized it was actually an original base, like this one. I ran downstairs and sure enough, it's marked.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Bronze-2-S...tributed-to-Pittsburgh-CO-1920s-/263238491634

I was able to scratch off some of the paint and in that area it's gilded. I'm going to start by trying to soften the paint to see if I can save the gilding. I just Googled stripping paint off of bronze and found some websites and groups that discussed it. I'm curious if anyone has actually done it and how it came out and, do you have any tips or do's and don'ts to pass along. Thank you.

 

Results will vary greatly with the type of paint

I have an old Russian brass tray which someone painted on with three different paints. The latex came off pretty well with alcohol. Acetone took the oil well. Some acrylic stuff softened a little with a torch but left an awful messy goo. I gave up.

 

How very exciting. I've used citrus paint stripper but only on wood.

 

Terry, on the bronze sculpture board, they said paint strippers worked so it might be worth a try if you have nothing to lose. If all else fails, I will use the paint stripper but it will take the gilding with it. I could gild it again but I would prefer to save the original finish if at all possible.

 

Hi Terry,
Nice catch on the lamp. I had a friend who found an wonderful 3 ft high bronze statue that someone had placed in a garden. It was covered with layers of paint.
I showed him how to place the piece in cardboard box covered with wax paper. I told him to pour paint stripper over the piece and let it run into the bottom of the box. I told him to keep pouring the stripper from the bottom onto the top of the piece. It took several days for all the stuff to eat away from the piece. That way the stripper did not need brushed or removed the antique finish that was applied when the statue was made. Scrubbing the remover off would have left tiny nicks that might have scratched the original finish. He sold the piece for a substantial price. I had to laugh since the auction house went all over the piece looking for tiny scratches and nicks.
greg

 

Greg, how did he remove all the left over residue? Hose? I did strip a metal eagle last year but it was not bronze. I used a cheap chip brush to apply the stripper and then I used the same brush to push the loosened paint off. I used some after wash on a soft cloth and then rinsed it off with a hose.

 

not sure if you can save the gilding. I'd heat it up and then either into the deep freeze or use an ice-spray and softly using a mallet to chip the paint off. when it's old paint with oil in it, then I'd never use solvents as a first try, smearing guaranteed.

 

Hi Mill Cove,
He kept pouring the stripper over the piece until all of the paint was gone. I use the same quick plan as you did when I strip paint. He knew his piece was special thus the more involved the removal.
greg

 

Fid, I thought about using heat until I read a post on this sculpture board. The heated bronze fell apart. Here it is. Scroll down to the sixth post

http://www.sculpture.net/community/showthread.php?t=3454

 

sadly they don't write if they worked with open flame. I suspect they had a bronzed spelter piece, which is often found in France (régule). I rather thought of an air blower.

 

Try a hair dryer on it first.

 

@Mill Cove Treasures , have you tried stripping the lamp base yet? Just curious... I have no advice.

 

I was able to "scrape" some of the paint off the top portion. Some areas were very easy and other areas wouldn't budge. Unfortunately, I had to set it aside for now. I want to test the gold. If it is real gold, I might be able to remove the paint with mineral spirits and elbow grease without damaging the gold. When I finally figure out how to proceed and make some progress, I'll post some photographs.

 

Thanks for the update!