Because lye can dissolve glue and make wood soft, it is generally not a very useful chemical unless you need to remove a particularly stubborn paint stain or you need to strip a large amount of paint from a very large surface. Because lye can burn skin, you need to know the proper way to use it or you may end up having to visit the emergency room with severe burns.
Things You Will Need
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Put on acid-resistant gloves.
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Work outdoors or in a well-ventilated area.
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Fill a 5-gallon bucket with two gallons of water.
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Stir in one cup of lye powder and one cup of corn starch using a wooden stir stick.
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Apply the solution to the surface using an oil-based paintbrush.
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Allow the solution to soak into the paint for five minutes.
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Scrape away the paint using a metal putty knife.
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Apply a solution of one-part vinegar and one-part water to the surface, effectively neutralizing the lye.
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Rinse the surface with a water hose.
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Neutralize the solution in the 5-gallon bucket by stirring in three cups of vinegar.
The Drip Cap
- Lye, or sodium hydroxide, is one of the oldest used paint strippers.
- Because lye can burn skin, you need to know the proper way to use it or you may end up having to visit the emergency room with severe burns.
- Apply the solution to the surface using an oil-based paintbrush.