TM 1-1500-204-23-9 WARNING · Avoid    contamination    of    lakes    and streams, with paint and paint removal waste.        Some    of    the    chemicals utilized for painting and paint removal require    treatment    or    other    special control prior to disposal. · Disposal of materials shall be accomplished  under  the  direction  of the   installation   facility   engineer   and MEDDAC    Health    and    Environment Activity in accordance with applicable directive,  and  in  a  manner  that  will not  result  in  violation  of  local,  state, and federal pollution criteria. Guidelines   for   disposal   are   cited   in AR 200-1 and TM 5-814-6. (1)  General preparations.  The following actions will prepare the equipment for cleaning and stripping: · Place equipment on a wash rack, preferably in shaded area, attach a static ground. · For    best    results,    ambient    temperature should be approximately between 50 and 100°F (10 and 37°C).    Do  not  attempt  to accomplish  paint  removal  in  rain,  or  on surfaces which are not dry. · When   painted   surface   is   exceptionally dirty or coated with fuel, oil, grease, mud or other foreign matter, clean in accordance with TM 55-1500-333-24 before applying remover. · After equipment has been cleaned, allow sufficient  time  for  surfaces  and  crevices to  dry  thoroughly.    Water  remaining  on surfaces and in crevices has a detrimental effect on paint removers. (2)    Chemical  Removal  from  Metals.    The  use  of MIL-R-81924 paint remover is described in the following paragraphs. WARNING Prolonged   breathing   of   remover   fumes must     be     avoided     as     serious     health problems  may  result.    Use  only  in  well ventilated areas. NOTE Removers must be well mixed before use as   they   tend   to   segregate   on   standing. Do this by agitating with a wooden paddle if   mechanical   mixers   are   not   available. Rolling   a   drum   will   not   mix   its   content very  effectively.    At  temperatures  below 600F, the removal power of removers will be    noticeably    slower    than    at    higher temperatures. (3)    Applying  removers.    Beginning  at  the  highest point of any vertical or sloping surface, apply a coat of remover  with  a  suitable  brush.    Barrel  pump  and  spray gun  may  be  used  for  application  of  removers.    In  no case should the spray be highly atomized.  Agitate with a  stiff  fiber  brush,  if  necessary,  to  loosen  paint.    A  wet film  of  remover  should  be  maintained  on  the  surface being  stripped  to  obtain  efficient  removal.    This  may require   additional   application   of   the   remover.      Areas should  be  treated  progressively,  kept  wet,  and  allowed sufficient time for the stripping action.  Best results are obtained  by  applying  removers  in  shaded  areas  since sunlight dries the remover quickly. (4)      Painted   surfaces.      Enamel   surfaces   should wrinkle  within  5  to  15  minutes  after  application.    Most surfaces   with   lacquer   or   polyurethane   paint   will   not wrinkle   but   will   merely   be   softened   by   the   remover; allow remover to remain 8 to 20 minutes, keeping a wet surface     by     applying     another     coat     of     remover     if necessary. NOTE Zinc    chromate    primed    surface,    where topcoat   material   has   not   been   applied, should    be    washed    down    as    soon    as possible  after  initial  loosening  of  primer. If    the    surface    becomes    dry,    another application  of  remover  is  required  since zinc chromate tends to become redeposited on the surface. (5)  Cleanup of stripped surfaces.  Flush the stripped surfaces, using warm water at 150 to 250 psi maximum. If high pressure warm water is not available, cold water at usual hydrant pressure may be used.  This will require a longer time to accomplish the washing. 9-6