Stripping coatings off metal parts can be one of the most stubborn and time-consuming processes in the shop. Over the years, I’ve tried just about every method — sandblasting, grinding, harsh chemical removers — and nothing has been as consistently effective or controlled as Eco-Strip / Eco-Stripper, the environmentally friendly coating remover from PowderStrip.com.

I use the 30-gallon Eco-Strip pail from PowderStrip and run it in a 55-gallon open-top steel drum (ULINE S-10758BLU). This drum-based system gives me the space, depth, and consistency I need to strip parts efficiently and safely. However, when I’m working on larger items like wheels, I can usually only fit one wheel at a time, so the process can get time-consuming — especially when I have multiple sets to strip.

If you’ve ever tried to sandblast thick or hardened coatings directly, you know how tough it can be. Whether it’s powder coat, industrial paint, enamels, or baked-on finishes, these coatings are designed to be durable — that’s great for their intended purpose but a headache when removal is necessary.

Direct blasting often:

• Takes a long time

• Produces excessive heat

• Can warp thin metal

• Wears down blasting media quickly

• Rounds off details or edges

That’s why removing the coating chemically first is the smarter approach. Eco-Strip softens and releases most coatings, dramatically reducing blasting time and media usage while protecting the part underneath.

Eco-Stripper is a water-based, low-odor chemical remover designed to break down a wide range of coatings. In real-world use, it performs extremely well on:

• Powder coat

• Industrial paints

• Enamels

• Automotive coatings

• Primers

• Several baked-on finishes

When warmed, it softens these coatings so they release cleanly from the metal, making final cleanup incredibly efficient.

While it’s not perfect for every coating — such as Cerakote — it performs exceptionally well across most typical industrial, automotive, and shop-applied finishes, especially when heat is used.

Cerakote is ceramic-based and extremely chemical-resistant by design. Eco-Stripper barely affects it, even after long soaks.

For Cerakote, abrasive blasting or other mechanical methods remain the only reliable removal process.

But for almost all other coatings, Eco-Stripper is in its eleme

After experimenting with different techniques, here’s the method that consistently delivers the best performance:

• Fill the 55-gallon drum with Eco-Strip

• Fully submerge the part

• Wrap a heating pad around the base

• Bring the chemical up to ~120°F

• Let the part soak for 3–4 hours

Heated Eco-Stripper becomes much more active, causing coatings to soften, wrinkle, and release from the surface, making removal extremely easy with minimal scraping or rinsing

After stripping, I rinse parts off in a 275-gallon IBC tote. This gives me a contained area to wash off dissolved coating and stripper residue.

To speed things up, I use a sprayer (the MS-31H) to blast water over the parts, rinsing everything into the IBC tank without making a mess. It keeps rinsing contained, efficient, and shop-friendly.

Working with any chemical stripper requires proper safety gear. My setup includes:

• Full-face respirator (protects lungs + eyes)

• Chemical-resistant gloves (7-mil butyl gloves)

• Heavy-duty waterproof apron (prevents splashes)

• Good ventilation around the work area

This PPE setup keeps me protected from splashes, vapors, and skin contact.

• Large drum capacity for bigger parts or batches

• Heat greatly accelerates stripping

• Eco-friendly formula compared to older chemical strippers

• 275-gallon rinse tote + sprayer for efficient cleanup

• Respirator, apron, gloves, and PPE protect you during stripping and rinsing

• Reusable stripper with simple skimming

• Much easier on parts than blasting alone

• Works on multiple coating types, not just powder coat

Eco-Stripper isn’t a universal remover — Cerakote remains the big exception — but for most coatings used in automotive, industrial, and home-shop environments, it’s one of the most effective and user-friendly solutions I’ve ever used.Paired with a 55-gallon drum, steady 120°F heat, a large rinse tote, a sprayer, and proper PPE, it becomes a safe, efficient, and extremely capable coating-removal workflow.If you deal with coated metal parts regularly, this process is absolutely worth adopting.