Will a Pressure Washer Remove Paint From Metal?

Pressure washers are one of the best tools you can have for cleaning up areas around the house. They are delicate enough for washing windows, yet powerful enough to strip paint clear off of wood. This brings us to the following question: will a pressure washer remove paint from metal?

A pressure washer is powerful enough to strip paint of off metal in some situations. There are many factors to consider including the age of the paint, nozzle type, and how the surface has been painted.

Factors to Consider

Not all paint is created equal. It will be much easier to remove paint from a 20 year old lawn mower, compared to a brand new car. So, what really impacts how well paint will hold up on metal surfaces?

Type of Paint

Most homeowners are familiar with wet paint. It will either come in a can or spray bottle. Even though wet paint is more cost effective, it’s not the strongest type. Powder coat painting is the preferred choice when it comes to metal applications.

The powder is applied with a spray gun and is heated for a short amount of time, so that the paint can bond to the surface. Powder coat painting is becoming more popular today in the automotive industry, but most household appliances will have this finish.

Paint Age

Age is another important factor that will determine how easily a pressure washer can remove paint from metal. You might find it difficult to remove paint on a brand new car, even if you’re using the most aggressive nozzle. That’s because the paint has just been bonded to the surface.

But on older vehicles striping paint will be much easier. That’s because it has been exposed to the sun and the harsh elements of nature for years. It’s possible to strip an entire panel of a car if one small area is peeling.

PSI

Pressure washer PSI (pounds per square inch) will determine how effective a machine is at stripping paint. It will take a much less PSI to wash dust off your vehicle compared to cleaning oil stains from an asphalt driveway.

In other words, a higher PSI will be required when it comes to removing paint from metal. All of the water coming out from the gun will be directed into a small surface area. This is what creates the amount of force needed to strip paint.

Understanding Pressure Washer Nozzles

0-degree (Red) – This delivers the most amount of water pressure to a concentrated area. It should only be used to clean off tough metal stains. The red nozzle will cut through wood, home siding and other soft materials.

15-degree (Yellow) – Can be used like a scraper to strip off paint, or grease on hard exterior surfaces. The yellow nozzle can also work to clean second story floors from the ground level, as the water pressure will decrease with distance.

25-degree (Green) – Ideal for cleaning dirt, grime, and mildew on exterior surfaces. The green nozzle is safe enough to clean home siding, sidewalks, and metal furniture. It will deliver plenty of cleaning power without causing any damage.

40-degree (White) – Creates a wide spray that allows you to clean windows, vehicles, and other objects around the home. The white nozzle has more cleaning power than a traditional garden hose but is still safe on those delicate surfaces.

Detergent (Black) – Some pressure washers come with an attached canister that holds soap. The black detergent nozzle has the capability to evenly spread out soap when in use. This is also a low-pressure nozzle and is considered safe.

How to Remove Paint with a Pressure Washer

There’s a good chance you want to respray metal if you’re looking to remove a layer of paint first. To be blunt, there’s no pretty way to do this. Even if you successfully remove paint, the surface might be uneven and require sanding to smooth out bumps. Let’s take a look at how you can accomplish this task.

1. Inspect the Surface

Before you begin this project, it helps to figure out what kind of surface you’re working with. Carefully inspect the edges first to see if there are any imperfections.

As we briefly mentioned above, even the smallest tear in paint can quickly transform into an entire surface being stripped away. This will be more evident when working with older metal.

You can even speed up the paint removal process by working with rusted areas. Rust only beings to form when a layer of paint is no longer present. Keep in mind that this will only work with light amounts of rust.

2. Try Different Nozzles

Experimenting with different nozzles is the key to removing paint from metal. Follow the guide listed above and give it a try yourself. Just remember to start with a safe nozzle and slowly move on to a more aggressive type.

At the end of the day you won’t know how the paint will respond unless you test it first. For metal it’s best to begin with a 15-degree nozzle and work your way down.

This may be the optimal attachment for older surfaces. If no paint is being removed, you can try a 0-degree nozzle. However, this might take longer because it covers a smaller surface area.

3. Sand the Surface

If your only goal was to remove paint from metal, it’s okay to skip this step. But when fixing a car you will need to finish up by using a sander. This will remove any leftover paint and get the surface smooth again.

If you skip this step there will be ugly bumps and marks all over the finish. Begin by using a high quality sanding machine. You will need to take the opposite approach to using different nozzles when it comes to the sanding pads.

Start with a more aggressive pad and slowly work your way up to a fine sanding pad. This is the best process for transforming a rough surface into a perfectly smooth one.

Final Thoughts

So, will a pressure washer remove paint from metal? It’s certainly possible with a heavy duty machine and the right nozzle attachment.

Keep in mind that this project will take some time and the end result won’t be pretty. There won’t be a perfectly clean finish once the original layer has been stripped away.

You will need to follow up by using a sander to achieve the best results. This can be a very long process, as many different pads are required to get a rough surface feeling and looking smooth again.

Further Reading

• How to Use a Pressure Washer to Remove Paint from Deck
• Will a Pressure Washer Remove Paint from Wood?
• Pressure Washer PSI vs GPM Explained

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