If that paint is older than 1978 it has toxic lead. High heat gun will vaporize into breathable toxic fumes. Be safe with low setting on gun or low infraredspeedheater. Catherine Eco-Strip
@cbrooksecostrip I have run into the problem, realizing trim i was going to repaint contains led. I have read all over the net that one important step to led-paint removal is using a HEPA vaccum, with HEPA filter. But i called homedepot to ask about such a vaccum, and where i could rent it, and they sounded like they thought i was from another planet. Any idea where to buy/rent this HEPA vaccum?
hey i have a hard wood book shelf that my mom has put many lairs of paint on it oer the years now that im older i want to strip the paint from it and let it be a hard wood but the paint stripper i have is not working have any advice
I think the most important thing is eye protection.
Even wearing regular eyeglasses is a good idea.
I worked one summer as a teen stripping furniture at a shop piled high with old pieces and I know from experience what chemicals can do to delicate eye-balls.
thanks very much, but one more thing: i have wallpaper above my stairs, plus i have to paint above them too - so how do i reach it? can i use a standard ladder? the stairs are sandwiched between two walls (it's an attic bedroom) so I'm a little confused on how to go about doing things. Thank you!
burning off alot better also much cheaper . i only use paint stripper on stuff that getting varnished or stained. oh and when paint stripper use googles, gloves and combination shave hook =D
I generally try a heat gun and painter's multi-tool before I use stripper anymore. Most oil and latex based coatings come off wood easier with a heat gun than doing layer after layer with stripper. For those that do use stripper this is an excellent how-to, thanks again Tim.
Great tip! I'd like to add to it not to confuse a heat gun with a torch. Torches are very dangerous. Although both tools can cause fires, torches seem to do it with far greater ease.
Oh heck yes they are dangerous. When I was younger in the 60's my dad had a white gas torch you fill with Coleman fuel, pump up and light made of brass and cast iron - we used to burn paint from window frames, one or two times the hose came out as the old, old wood caught fire. I am now the proud owner of the very same torch but no way I'll use it for paint stripping. I use it for projects where I burn the surface and then wire brush it out to make it look old on crafts and I do it OUTSIDE.
I did an 18 ft set of yellow pine cabinets inside and out with one inexpensive heat gun and a painter's multi-tool that had 55 yrs of oil and latex layers on it and other than getting pretty hot inside the cabinets (for me, it was August) it took all but a slight primer haze off then sanding and coating the pine with polyurethane has them looking like factory new. Trim all around windows and the window casings too. Detail carvings still need stripper though. They make a putty stripper as well.
(Hate to keep on replying but...) One thing that came to mind as well with the heat gun - old window caulk/putty that's hard as a rock - heat the putty with a heat gun and it will soften and pop right out without need to chip the wood frame or break the glass if you are just reglazing and re-using the old glass. No special cutters, no cracking the glass, no gouging out the wood - it works great. Use a torch for the same and the flame will crack the glass besides being a fire hazard.
Best vid I've seen on paint stripping
peacefulmeed 7 months ago
AsktheBuilder my msn in profile! Paint Stripper
sexykatie90 1 year ago
I like this guy.
dashrirprock 1 year ago
If that paint is older than 1978 it has toxic lead. High heat gun will vaporize into breathable toxic fumes. Be safe with low setting on gun or low infraredspeedheater. Catherine Eco-Strip
cbrooksecostrip 1 year ago
@cbrooksecostrip I have run into the problem, realizing trim i was going to repaint contains led. I have read all over the net that one important step to led-paint removal is using a HEPA vaccum, with HEPA filter. But i called homedepot to ask about such a vaccum, and where i could rent it, and they sounded like they thought i was from another planet. Any idea where to buy/rent this HEPA vaccum?
dirosaga 1 year ago
hey i have a hard wood book shelf that my mom has put many lairs of paint on it oer the years now that im older i want to strip the paint from it and let it be a hard wood but the paint stripper i have is not working have any advice
dreamer032388 1 year ago
I think the most important thing is eye protection.
Even wearing regular eyeglasses is a good idea.
I worked one summer as a teen stripping furniture at a shop piled high with old pieces and I know from experience what chemicals can do to delicate eye-balls.
Be careful by using eye protection FIRST.
zachNewYork 2 years ago
my room's borders are all pink and i want to paint them white. do i have to strip the pink paint on them or can i just prime it?
prettygirl92088 2 years ago
Just clean the walls and repaint them. Read my column about special primers. It's at my AsktheBuilder website.
AsktheBuilder 2 years ago
thanks very much, but one more thing: i have wallpaper above my stairs, plus i have to paint above them too - so how do i reach it? can i use a standard ladder? the stairs are sandwiched between two walls (it's an attic bedroom) so I'm a little confused on how to go about doing things. Thank you!
prettygirl92088 2 years ago
will you be able to primer just after you have sanded? also will this work on metal? thanks
TheLittleWorldofGaz 2 years ago
Yes and yes unless the directions on the can of primer say differently. READ directions always for all products.
AsktheBuilder 2 years ago
burning off alot better also much cheaper . i only use paint stripper on stuff that getting varnished or stained. oh and when paint stripper use googles, gloves and combination shave hook =D
stejohno 3 years ago
I generally try a heat gun and painter's multi-tool before I use stripper anymore. Most oil and latex based coatings come off wood easier with a heat gun than doing layer after layer with stripper. For those that do use stripper this is an excellent how-to, thanks again Tim.
rhblakeman 3 years ago
Great tip! I'd like to add to it not to confuse a heat gun with a torch. Torches are very dangerous. Although both tools can cause fires, torches seem to do it with far greater ease.
AsktheBuilder 3 years ago
Oh heck yes they are dangerous. When I was younger in the 60's my dad had a white gas torch you fill with Coleman fuel, pump up and light made of brass and cast iron - we used to burn paint from window frames, one or two times the hose came out as the old, old wood caught fire. I am now the proud owner of the very same torch but no way I'll use it for paint stripping. I use it for projects where I burn the surface and then wire brush it out to make it look old on crafts and I do it OUTSIDE.
rhblakeman 3 years ago
I did an 18 ft set of yellow pine cabinets inside and out with one inexpensive heat gun and a painter's multi-tool that had 55 yrs of oil and latex layers on it and other than getting pretty hot inside the cabinets (for me, it was August) it took all but a slight primer haze off then sanding and coating the pine with polyurethane has them looking like factory new. Trim all around windows and the window casings too. Detail carvings still need stripper though. They make a putty stripper as well.
rhblakeman 3 years ago
(Hate to keep on replying but...) One thing that came to mind as well with the heat gun - old window caulk/putty that's hard as a rock - heat the putty with a heat gun and it will soften and pop right out without need to chip the wood frame or break the glass if you are just reglazing and re-using the old glass. No special cutters, no cracking the glass, no gouging out the wood - it works great. Use a torch for the same and the flame will crack the glass besides being a fire hazard.
rhblakeman 3 years ago