Paint That Goes Sticky When Sanded

[kia cat]

Friends of mine are trying to remove paint on a wall. Sanding it makes it go sticky. It's bright red and driving them mad! Any ideas please?

[retrocop]

Outside wall? Burn and scrape? Nitromors? Probably the friction of the sandpaper is melting the paint.?

[ToraToraTora]

you need a heat stripper or nitromors.

[dannyk13]

Heat stripper rather than a blow lamp which might leave black scorch marks.

[Old_Geezer]

You just keep on and on and on using up swathes of abrasive paper and slinging them clogged, and hardly used to the max.

I had the same issue when sanding down woodwork recently. The first coat of whatever, be it stain, varnish, paint, ??? did precisely that. Strippers were of minimal help although I did, at the time, find other chemical removers that did help. But ultimately even if they get the worst away, there is still residue to remove and the answer seemed to be to curse having started, and keeping on going.

Accept the time and cost, take a deep breath, or a thousand, and keep going. Tell your friend to think of how good they'll feel once it's achieved.

[RATTER15]

Why not just paint or paper over it, maybe prime it with PVA first.

[Old_Geezer]

On re-reading I see it is on a wall. Then for sure sealing and painting over is an option. (My woodwork was destined to be vanished to see the wood, I'm unsure folk need to see the plaster, just a flat surface.)

[bookbinder]

Try steel wool (not the soap pad variety; proper, unadulterated steel wool) dipped in Nitromors. Wear suitable gloves e.g. gardening gloves.

[Old_Geezer]

... to be varnished to see ...
like I ^%%"&*$^%* well typed !

[The Builder]

Possibly a latex-based paint, Kia. If it was applied too thickly, and/or coats weren't allowed to dry properly before re-coating, then it will remain tacky since it has become sealed and unable to dry.

Oil-based paint will seal and prepare the surface for your finish coats. If this is indoors and you want to use emulsion, then prime with a flat, oil-based paint such as undercoat.