What is the Radiator Stripping and Dipping Process?

Radiator stripping, also referred to as radiator dipping, was once considered an easy way to remove paint from radiators and other household items such as pine doors and fireplaces. The process involves immersing the radiator in large tanks filled with caustic soda which are often heated to speed up the process. Caustic soda a highly corrosive alkaline chemical that requires a lot of care to work with safely.

As you can probably see this method comes with a series of challenges. After the radiator has been dipped, it must be thoroughly rinsed to remove any residual caustic solution and loosened paint. This is often done using high-pressure washers, which can be a messy and time-consuming process. Furthermore, the runoff from the cleaning process can pose serious environmental concerns. The caustic solution, combined with old paint particles, creates a hazardous waste that needs to be carefully managed. Water authorities have tightened regulations to ensure that such waste does not contaminate watercourses, adding another layer of complexity to this method.

In addition to the environmental issues, the process of radiator stripping and dipping can have an adverse effect on the radiators themselves. For example, cast iron radiators have gaskets between their sections that may absorb some of the caustic solution. Over time, this trapped solution often seeps out, especially when the radiator heats up after being installed. The result is unsightly brown or grey stains that appear around the gaskets, ruining the fresh paint finish and compromising the aesthetic quality of the restored radiator.

While radiator stripping and dipping still have their place, especially in cases where other methods may not be feasible, blast cleaning has emerged as the superior technique for radiator restoration. Blast cleaning involves using high-pressure abrasive materials to remove both paint and corrosion from the surface of the radiator. This method is far more thorough than dipping, as it not only strips away the old paint but also cleans the metal surface, ensuring that it is ready for priming and repainting.

One of the primary advantages of blast cleaning is that it does not rely on harmful chemicals. Unlike radiator stripping, which uses caustic solutions that are difficult to dispose of safely, blast cleaning is a dry process that generates minimal waste. The absence of chemicals means there is no risk of damaging the environment or causing long-term issues with the radiator’s functionality. This makes blast cleaning a more sustainable and responsible choice for radiator restoration.

Furthermore, blast cleaning allows for greater precision and control over the restoration process. Since the entire surface of the radiator is cleaned and prepared, there are no hidden areas where old paint or rust might remain. This ensures a higher-quality finish, which is less likely to degrade over time. Many professionals in the industry, including those at BSP, have shifted towards blast cleaning as their preferred method due to these benefits. You can learn more about blast cleaning and its advantages by clicking here.

Although radiator stripping and dipping were once seen as efficient techniques for restoring old radiators, the limitations and risks associated with these methods have led to their decline in favour. At Blast Spray Polish, for example, we made the decision early on to eliminate chemical stripping from our restoration process. Instead, we focus exclusively on blast cleaning, which allows us to avoid the pitfalls of using caustic chemicals while offering a superior finished product.

Yes, the blasting process is a little longer, but by choosing blast cleaning over radiator stripping and dipping, we not only provide a more environmentally friendly service but also ensure that our clients receive the highest quality results. Our commitment to blast cleaning gives us complete confidence in our work, and we are proud to offer a restoration process that is both hand on heart safe and effective.