This article I wrote about Fluxaf eco-friendly paint stripper and Fluxaf Graffiti Cleaner first appeared as a guest post on Traditional Painter, home to some of the UK’s best kitchen painters and decorators.

I visited a trade show about 12 months ago with my local paint store, and when I was wandering through the array of trade stands, checking out all my favourite tool and sundries suppliers, my attention was drawn to a small display tucked away in a corner.

Fibre Multipurpose Products Ltd were introducing their new powerful water-based eco-friendly range of cleaning, stripping & protective agents – Fluxaf.

A couple of their products in particular caught my eye, and once their sales director, Kevin Dunderdale, began explaining the products in more detail, I was initially very impressed!

Like all professional decorators, since the new government legislation for lower Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) came into force in 2010, I have looked at converting my working practices, and substituting water-based paint and related products for solvent-based ones. The other reason I welcomed these new products is briefly explained below with a snippet from the www.hse.gov.uk website. It refers to the banning of traditional paint-stripping agents, which unbeknown to me, and probably many others, had contained some quite nasty health-risking chemicals.

Dichloromethane (DCM) Restriction

A new ban on some supply and use of paint strippers containing the hazardous substance ‘dichloromethane’ (DCM, and also known as methylene chloride) is coming into force.  For the purposes of this ban, the term ‘paint stripper’ is taken to mean DCM (or mixtures containing it) intended for stripping paint, varnish or lacquer.

The ban first took effect on 6 December 2010.  Since then formulators of DCM-based paint strippers have not been allowed to put their products into the supply chain for use outside industrial installations. Suppliers could however continue to sell existing stocks to professionals or the public for a further year, until 6 December 2011.

On the 6 June 2012 all use of DCM-based paint strippers by professionals outside industrial installations will have to cease. . (Reach News: hse.gov.uk. 2012)

Fluxaf Green paint stripper

The first product introduced to me by Kevin was a paint stripper (water-based) known as Fluxaf Green. I have since used this product on several stripping jobs and can only say it makes this once messy laborious job that much more efficient and pleasing to do, especially with what I now know about previous paint strippers. It smells quite pleasant too.

I’m no expert when it comes to making paint strippers, I’ll leave that one to Fluxaf, but I have used this product with some great results on hardwood handrails and sash windows. What I particularly like is that, unlike some strippers, it doesn’t burn the wood substrate, if left on too long.

Fluxaf Graffiti Remover

: The next product, Graffi Klean, is a graffiti remover and although my business does not really provide this type of service, there are occasions when a bottle in the back of the van can come in quite handy; all will be explained:

Fluxaf: Remove paint from lacquered brass hinges

At the time I came across these products at the trade show, I was in the middle of decorating an 85-bed nursing home. I had the contract for the hanging all the wall coverings and a separate painting contractor had carried out all the painting work. Unfortunately the painting contractor had since left site , leaving his mark – paint on every single brass door hinge throughout the building! Now imagine 85 bedrooms, two doors in each room, store rooms, communal areas, wash rooms etc, etc… every door had 3 brass lacquered hinges, covered in paint and the quality control inspector had just completed his snagging and pulled everyone. Hundreds of door hinges would have to be changed or cleaned. Only problem was, when the site team tried cleaning them, they removed the brass lacquer from the hinge also. The site management were distraught, to say the least, and asked if I knew of any product that might work!

I recall trying various products and chemicals in a bid to help out, but none of them worked. I then remembered the Fluxaf graffiti remover sample bottles from the show. After ringing my supplier and getting  a brief on “How best to use Fluxaf Graffiti remover” I fetched my samples from the van and set about trying out Fluxaf.

“OK, spray onto affected area and leave for about 15 seconds, then wipe of with a damp cloth. If necessary repeat the process” I kid you NOT, this product removed virtually all the excess paint from the hinges without ANY detrimental effect to the brass lacquer!

The site labourers were given a crash course and set about their task. Much to the relief of the site management, they got approval from the quality inspector, in time for handover. Fluxaf delivered a good result all round! Fibre Multipurpose have since gone from strength to strength and I was recently told on good authority that they will more than likely be appearing in a stockist near you shortly!

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Fluxaf Graffiti Remover in action

Fluxaf team up with Lincrusta

 I introduced Fibre Multipurpose Ltd to the technical team at Lincrusta Wall coverings, who have been looking for a suitable paint-stripping agent to introduce to their range of support products. Since carrying out various tests for paint removal on historic wall-coverings, I was informed this week that Lincrusta have given Fluxaf the “Green” light (excuse the pun) and are going to be making this product available soon.

I also recently heard from Kevin, the sales director at Fibre Multipurpose, that the company will again be exhibiting in November at the National Painting and Decorating Show at Ricoch Arena, Coventry. So, if you are visiting, keep your eyes peeled, you might see me there also! Pop along and say hello.

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