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Paint and Varnish Remover

The best and easiest way to strip paint or varnish from your canoe or boat is to find someone else to do the job.

If that is not possible, prepare yourself for a messy job. I have tried many different strippers and the ones that work the best are hazardous to humans and the environment. 5f5 Citrus works almost as well as the nasty stuff, is biodegradable and non-toxic. The secret to any stripping job is to lay on a heavy coat of stripper (1/8" or more) and let it work for at least 3 hours. You can let it work overnight as long as the stripper is kept out of the wind and sun. The best way to remove the liquefied finish is with a garden hose (this is the messy part). After you have washed out as much as you can with the hose and while the surface is still wet, scrub out the remainder using a Scotch-Brite (TM) stripping pad and a mixture of 1 cup TSP (trisodium phosphate) dissolved in a solution of 3 quarts warm water and 1 quart fresh chlorine bleach. It will take at least 1 1/2 gallons of stripper to take the inside of a canoe down to bare wood.

5f5 Citrus is no longer being produced. I am currently testing an alternative product/

If you have trouble locating the other materials I can also provide them.