Heat guns are a great way to remove old paint, varnish,
and other finishes. They are especially good at taking off
multiple layers of paint – all at once! As you use the
heat gun, the paint softens and bubbles up, making it easy
to remove it with a metal scraper. As you might guess,
you'll need to keep your wits about you with a heat gun.
You don't want to point it at anything other than the work
surface, and you'll need to protect yourself by wearing
long sleeves, safety glasses, and a respirator designed
for use with a heat gun. Keep a fire extinguisher handy –
just in case.
With the heat gun
running, point the nozzle at the work surface,
keeping it about 2 inches away. Move the gun back
and forth across the surface until the paint begins
to bubble and blister. Stop if the finish begins to
smoke!
Hold the putty knife
at about a 30-degree angle and use it like a plow to
push the paint away. Avoid gouging the wood. Dump
the softened paint sludge into an old coffee can as
you work. Special paint scrapers with angled blades
work better than most ordinary scrapers.
You'll want to go
back over detailed areas with the heat gun, using a
contoured scraper to get into narrow crevices.
Any stubborn flecks
that remain can usually be removed by using just the
scraper. Again, be careful not to damage the work
surface. When the paint is all gone, wash the
surface with denatured alcohol or mineral spirits.
With the heat gun
running, point the nozzle at the work surface,
keeping it about 2 inches away. Move the gun back
and forth across the surface until the paint begins
to bubble and blister. Stop if the finish begins to
smoke!
Hold the putty knife
at about a 30-degree angle and use it like a plow to
push the paint away. Avoid gouging the wood. Dump
the softened paint sludge into an old coffee can as
you work. Special paint scrapers with angled blades
work better than most ordinary scrapers.
You'll want to go
back over detailed areas with the heat gun, using a
contoured scraper to get into narrow crevices.
Any stubborn flecks
that remain can usually be removed by using just the
scraper. Again, be careful not to damage the work
surface. When the paint is all gone, wash the
surface with denatured alcohol or mineral spirits.