How to Take the Paint Off of a Stairway Rail

Wooden Rail

• 1

  Place plastic underneath the stairway rail to catch the debris as it falls. This saves time cleaning up after the job is finished.

• 2

  Remove the screws holding the rail in place with the screwdriver and remove it from its supports.

• 3

  Begin stripping the paint off of the wooden railing by using a coarse sandpaper. Fold the sandpaper in half and then in half once again, and rub the paper onto the railing in long vertical strokes. This eventually takes off the paint and will give you a nice arm workout in the process.

• 4

  Continue sanding down the paint until most of it is off. Move on to a lesser grade sandpaper to remove the last thin layer of paint. The medium- or fine-grade sandpaper will also prepare the wood for repainting or staining.

Metal Railing

• 5

  Remove the railing from its brackets that hold it onto the wall or the stairway. This can often be done using a screwdriver and wrench.

• 6

  Move the metal railing outside or into a well-ventilated area on a plastic tarp. This prevents fume buildup, which can be harmful to humans and animals.

• 7

  Open the gel paint stripper's container using a flat screwdriver in between the lid and its seal. Put on your protective gloves and eye wear, and dip a clean rag into the gel.

• 8

  Pull the rag out of the gel and begin rubbing the gel onto the metal railing, liberally adding more gel to the railing until it is about an 1/8 inch thick.

• 9

  Press more gel into tight corners of the railing. Allow the gel to begin softening the paint from the metal railing, and scrape off a small area of the paint using a scraper after 20 minutes to make sure it is ready to be removed. Continue scraping all of the paint off the metal and spray the metal down with water after the paint is removed. Allow the metal to dry completely before repainting.