removing paint from portlights

[danshat]

In the process of starting to put things back together I decided it was cheaper to reuse the existing portlights (bronze I believe.) The inside of them was painted black to match the hull color. Since I hated the black and am repainting the boat fighting lady yellow I need to figure out an easy way to remove the paint from the portlights. They have all been removed and I am making new trim rings out of starboard so I just need to figure out how to get them cleaned up and repainted. Any ideas?

 

[Vincentc]

If a chemical paint stripper is an option, I have been pleased with how well "citrus strip" works on removing varnish. It worked a bit slow but was effective and is apparently safer to the applicator. On the other hand I had some overspray from the wet bar onto the bulkhead and it did not remove the polyurethane paint. (thankfully)

Regarding starboard as a trim ring. No experience there, but I would wonder how well it will hold paint.

Good luck with your hull painting.
Vincent

 

[danshat]

I'm actually not planning on painting the trim rings. As the top side will be Oyster White the seafoam starboard matches fairly closely. If starboard is what it claims it should be the only maintenance free thing on the boat

 

[Vincentc]

I have to question whether "maintenance free" can be a marine "thing" or simply an advertising creation.

 

[NAN-PO 41]

I used Starboard a couple of years ago to make weatherboards and so far it has been maintenance free. Wash it and forget it. You must rembember however that sealer won't stick to it and neither will any type of glue. (the glue doesn't matter in this case but sealer might ) I am in the process of refinishing my bronze portholes one at a time and I am disassembling them, stripping them with paint stripper and glass beading everything but the glass and its mounting ring and then priming with epoxy primer and painting with interlux brightside. The mounting ring that holds the glass is carefully sanded by hand (after masking the glass to prevent scratches ) and then painted. My outer trim rings are chromed and for now at least are just being cleaned and reinstalled. I know this is labor intensive but as I am up here in the Frozen North I can do them while on the hard for the Winter. I made a plywood cover and install that while doing the port to keep out the weather. If you are using Starboard for trim rinrs you may need to be careful not to crack them when installing the hold down screws in the narrow ring.
Fred