Soy based paint, varnish, and urethane removers can be used in both indoor and outdoor applications. Soy-based paint strippers are able to remove several layers of paint in one application and are already being used in renovation and restoration projects in government buildings. According to product manufacturers, soy-based paint removers/strippers:

• Can be used on lead based paint; encapsulates lead to prevent air born lead particles
• Are safe to apply on a variety of surfaces, including wood, brick, stone, concrete, metal, and plaster
• Soften old paint and makes it easy to remove without damage to surface below
• Contain no caustics or methylene chloride

- Franmar Chemical®, Inc. manufactures a multi-purpose paint remover/stripper, Soy Gel™. According to Franmar, Soy Gel™ is an industrial strength and consumer friendly paint, varnish, and urethane remover with a low evaporation rate and the gel formulation makes it possible to remove several layers of paint, including lead-based paint that becomes encapsulated in the gel, in one application. In addition, for removing anti-fouling paint from boat hulls, Franmar makes a soy-based product, called Soy Strip™, which according to the manufacturer eliminates the need for extensive sanding.

- Green Products, LLC manufacturers aMAIZEing™, which is a solvent and stripper made from a combination of corn and soybean oil esters that can be used as a professional paint grade stripper and lead paint remover. According to its manufacturer, aMAIZEing™ is 100% biobased (per ASTM D 6866-04), is readily biodegradable, contains no environmentally hazardous ingredients, contains no ozone depleting chemicals (OCDs), and contains no hazardous air pollutants.

- Soy Technologies makes SoyGreen® EnviroGel™ and EnviroClear™ for removing multiple layers of oil and latex paints, lead-based paint, and other coatings, including epoxies, urethanes, elastomerics and chlorinated rubber. According to the manufacturer, EnviroGel™ and EnviroClear™ are environmentally safe, user friendly, low VOC, and non evaporative products. For stripping polyurethane, paints and similar finishes, Soy Technologies makes a product called SoyGreen® PolyStripper, which according to the manufacturer can be used for stripping floors or vertical surfaces leaving them in a ready to refinish condition. These products are recognized by EPA’s Design for the Environment program.

Contact Information:

• Soy Gel™ and Soy Strip™: Dan Brown, Franmar Chemical®, Inc., (800) 538-5069, www.franmar.com.
• SoyGreen® EnviroGel™ EnviroClear™ and PolyStripper: Randy Frees, Soy Technologies, LLC, (859) 881-1200, www.soytek.com
• aMAIZEing™: Grant Grable, Green Products, LLC, (877) 474-7481, www.greenproducts.net.