Stripping Mouldings

Taking paint off cast plaster is hard but worthwhile work.

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Mouldings present the most difficult chore. Cast plasterÑthose elements that have sculptural detail, such as dentils, egg-and-dart moulding, medallions, and the likeÑare the biggest headache. Take the mouldings off the wall or ceiling if you dareÑthere is always the danger of damaging the mouldings during disassembly. ItÕs a better idea to strip them in place. For lime-based and Òplastic paintÓ finishes, use a wall steamer. Disconnect the pan from the hose so you can point the steam from the hose directly where you need it. As the finish starts to soften, remove it carefully. For sand-paint-encrusted mouldings, use chemical paint remover. Even when you buy paste-type removers, additional thickening is desirable. A good thickener is Cab-O-Sil, a fumed silica made by Cabot Corporation of Boston. (ItÕs available at some art supply dealers and through epoxy distributors.) Fumed silica is extremely irritating to the respiratory tract. Be sure to use caution, work in a well-ventilated area if possible, and wear a fine-particle mask when handling it. Less effective alternatives to Cab-O-Sil include cornstarch and whiting. Add thickener until the stripper is nearly the consistency of Jello. Cover the moulding with polyethylene sheeting after applying the stripper. This allows the stripper to work longer, permitting it to soften the sand paint even in the deepest grooves. Once the paint is soft, getting it off is the hard part. Experiment with small chisels, awls, sculptorÕs tools, dentil picks, and the like to gently dig the slime out of the mouldingÕs recesses. Soft bristle and polypropylene brushes also work well.

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