Ship's Log, July 9th: Day 1

I would’ve gotten this up faster but I had to figure out how to spell “vinyl.” (and that alone took me about a week. How do they expect us to find things in a dictionary that we can’t already spell?)

“So what’s the plan for today?” friend Beth asked with apparent nonchalance while setting a few dishes into the sink.

“To get up early and start working on the airstream.”

“And plan B?”

I glanced at the microwave clock which glowed “2:05″ accusingly just over her right shoulder. “To work more quickly,”…which has pretty much played out as a pattern.

I say “work” but really I mean shop. After all, one can’t just pull toxic, vinyl stripping chemicals out of thin air. That would be unsafe. And we are all about safety. At least James is – as I learned at Home Depot where he made me buy old-lady protection goggles. Veritable goggles like I had to wear in my college General Biology lab and like the wrap-around sunglasses that one can see on the elderly ladies out for summer walks in their winter coats.

Once we had purchased our armor & arsenal, we were ready to battle with our first nemesis: 1970s vinyl… or so we thought. Little did we expect that our real first enemy was the can of Jasco itself or more precisely, its safety lid. Again, we are all about safety but that crazy lid had to go. In a weird twist, it was so safe it had become unsafe… the opening process involving a bit of violence and a pair of channel locks. But once our figurative sword (Jasco) was out of its figurative sheath (the can), the battle began.

The process (as we found outlined by youtube) was simple enough. James simply applied the toxic chemical with a cheap paint brush while I went to Walmart to buy more snacks. Stripping vinyl sounded like hard work so I was sure we’d need snacks. I am James’ helpmeet – the supporting person, his shoulder to lean on, advisor, etc. Without my buying him needed sustenance, how can he be expected to work hard?

I returned to discover that James hadn’t finished stripping off the vinyl. This was disappointing and nearly made me leave to fetch more snacks but I bolstered myself with visions of Team Whitmore working side by side, shoulder to shoulder and joined him with enthusiasm. So while he continued stripping the walls, I took up the drill and began removing window panes and wall outlet covers.

For those intrepid enough to actually be interested in the process (probably because they’ve purchased into their own whale of a project) below are the details in all their sweat, blood, and chemical burns.

Step 1:

Rip vinyl covering from inner skins.

Ingredients: Jasco (we may have used up to 6 gallons when all was said and done), mineral spirits (1-2gal), Goof Off (2gal), cheap chip brushes, jars, plastic paint scrapers, chemical proof gear, & finger pain.

To avoid stripping your own skin off or going blind, dress like a mad scientist. Wear beefy chemical proof gloves, cumbersome goggles, and long sleeves that will cause you to overheat. Leave no skin exposed. If you don’t look like an idiot you’re probably doing it wrong. Jasco is gnarly stuff and when it drops onto skin, burns immediately. It is however, stiff enough to tackle that horrific vinyl.

*Think this will make a great winter project? Not so much. Jasco is supposed to be applied between 65-85f and in a well ventilated area or it won’t be effective – except at killing you with fumes.

*Why keep the skins on for this part? Because the rivets will hold the skin steady as you pull the vinyl off, though, you may not want to keep the ceiling skins on: Jasco drips.

Gird yourself with armor
Slather a generous amount of Jasco on a section of wall
Let it sit and soak for 10-20min
attack wall with plastic paint scraper (metal will most assuredly scratch the aluminum) and rip that junk off. This is where the finger pain may kick in
once the vinyl is pretty much gone, get the gooey residue off with Goof Off and thick rag (old hand towels work great)
polish to a mirror with mineral spirits and a rag

Viola! After only a heap of hours and mild arthritis, you have shiny new walls.

I present to you the Critical Apparatus should you be intrepid enough to try it out:

*btw, as an Amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases made via these links (which Kit is housing for your viewing convenience)

Stay tuned: In the next episode, a tug-o-war battle with the skins ensues…