Hi there over here in the UK i use nitromorse. Its a paint stripper. For a hoop i would brush it on all over outside in the back yard. Leave for about 20 mins then lightly use a scrapper to gently take off the first layer. Then go to next hoop and then the shell. Each time i take a layer off i then paint more stripper on shell or hoop. Its long smelly and can be bad on your skin wear gloves. Ive been stripping paint off nearly every brand of drums there is, mainly premier. Doing what you want needs time and patience as you want a natural wood finish. Dont use a blow torch as it will scorch. A hot air gun is fine but do it evenly and take your time. Plus i will mask off the interior unless you wanna strip entire drum shell. I prefer the stripper cause i find it easier to take layers off. Once finished i use warm soapy water to wash all residue off. Let shell/hoops dry out for a good few days then start sanding. On your drum and hoops that is a doddle of a job........sean

With lead based paint like that.. I would avoid using spirits or stripper... Use sandpaper instead.. it is not a huge job... just work outdoors and use a mask if necessary.. start with 180 go to 400 and finish with fine steel wool..

( paint stripper/solvent or even turps will carry the diluted paint pigment into the grain and make your job more difficult )..

Cheers

John

+1 with seantdrums, chemical stripper or heat gun. Lead should not be ingested or inhaled. Sanding lead paint creates airborne particles and should be avoided. Stripper will be faster and safer.

Well as a wood working hobbyist... I don't like Fumes from stripper.. I don't like burned timber from heat guns... and I don't like timber grain ruined by gouging from scrapers etc... so I still prefer & recommend sanding for this particular job..

Cheers

John

All valid points longjohn. I knew a professional wood worker who would only "sand". He did beautiful work. He is no longer with us due to lead poisoning. I guess it comes down to what is more important; a persons health and well being or a drum hoop.

So this guy died strictly from lead poisoning? How old was he?

Mid seventies. At the time he seemed like a "really" old man to me but mid seventies doesn't seem "really" old now. An old timer from the "no mask" days. Effects are cumulative and usually take years to develop. My statement was probably extreme and I know the job can be done safely in the right environment and with the proper protective gear. I merely felt it irresponsible to advise someone to sand lead based paint. No offense meant.

I do respect your advice re safety Slingfan..

I also should be history by now... lived in lead painted homes and then lead painted everything that I ever built as a child... Worked 8 hour shifts for two years in a Lead sinker factory pouring molten lead into auto operating dies.. To top that off, I would make toys out of asbestos roofing using woodworking tools etc.. also wound steam pipes with asbestos whilst in the army and as a teen working on railway locomotives & boilers.. I do take more care now days... but back then knew no better (none of us did)..

I would use wet and dry sandpaper on the hoops .. rubber gloves and a bucket of water.. work outdoors... 1 hour & three Hail Marys..

Cheers

John

Thanks for all the replies everyone.

Phew, Longjohn! That's some lead history you have. I gave sanding a go (masked of course) on the outside of one hoop - came out rather well, but what a loooooong process. The inside paint layers are much less cracked and damaged than the outer layers, so unless I try the stripper option it'll be very slow progress.

Seantdrums, I was thinking of going down that route, so thanks for the detailed response, but now I'm not so sure. I might try a small section with stripper and see what happens. Longjohn has got me thinking...Hmmmm