Paint prep?

[dlb511]

Hi. I am getting ready to paint the deck and topsides of my 20' MA. I will probably spray on Awlgrip maybe Sterling. Can't decide which way to go. First however, I need to do a lot of sanding and prep. What can I use to wipe down the existing finish to remove the wax? Both Awlgrip and Sterling sell their proprietary chemical for the purpose for $40 to $50 a gallon, and of course say it must be used. There must be a less expensive way to do this, lacquer thinner? acetone? Either one is far less costly. Would they or some other alternative be effective. I am supposed to clean off the wax before I even start to sand, so, any suggestions? I have pulled all of the hardware so filling and sanding is the next step and I want to get started. TIA

[McGillicuddy]

Just to get the ball rolling, give it a good washing with dishsoap and water and dry it. Lacquer thinner and acetone will both work but they are very strong solvents and will probably remove more than you want, also the are very strong smelling and hard on your brain. They, especially acetone, with evaporate very fast. Intead you can use xylene, or VM&P Naptha on a rag or 0000 steel wool will break down and remove the wax. It evaporates much faster than mineral spirits (paint thinner)which will also work. The Naptha (which is basically white gas, a.k.a., camp stove fuel, will leave a cloudy residue that wipes right off with a cotton rag (old t-shirt) That may actually be helpful in that you'll know what you've wiped down. I would guess that floor stripper designed for vinyl composite and acrylic floor finishes would also be fine, too.

I use these for dewaxing finished wood furnishings and cabinetry and they are all $8- 15/gal. Good luck.

I am not an expert and have not prepped for Awlgrip, so you might wait for similar or contradictory response. Good luck

[dlb511]

McG. Thanks for the suggestions. I hadn't thought of using the naptha. I am working outdoors so the fumes are not so much of a problem, but the naptha would be nice because of the lower evaporation rate. I just don't want to use something that will cause problems down the road with the finish.