scraping paint

scott5241962 · 03-23-2012, 09:08 PM

What is the quickest most economical way to remove peeling paint off of a wood surface. I have a house to paint and it is chipped up pretty bad. Exterior white house its one of those nightmares..House is half done and looks like they got too close to the wood with the pressure washer as it looks as if the wood needs a haircut. im sure youve seen it..100 year old house been painted 3 or 4 times and then not painted in 40 years.Too bad they neglected it, it is a beautiful house 2 story colonial with lots of detail and scrolled wood decorations on porch. will post pics tmw.

joecaption · 03-23-2012, 10:59 PM

A fast way, not going to happen.
There's hundreds of differant ways to strip it.
Peel Away II stripper for the detaled work, this works fine for the flat areas.
http://www.tools-plus.com/porter-cable-7403.html

Bob Mariani · 03-23-2012, 11:47 PM

I would use the paint scraper pro tool. You can rent them also.

chrisn · 03-24-2012, 06:07 AM

BEWARE!!!

http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/renovation.htm

jawadesign · 03-27-2012, 02:05 PM

i'm getting ready to do a lot of this next month and i've always tried to take the proper precautions, just in case there is lead in the paint.

i'm going to pick up some 3M Lead Test Swabs tonight...
http://www.amazon.com/3M-LC-2S24C-Le...=cm_cr_pr_pb_t

what i like about these tests is you don't send something off with your freakin SOC # or address attached to it, last thing i need is the EPA to show up at my door. i don't need BIG brother sending a HAZMAT team to my house for $150hr. i think it's so BS, these crews that do asbestos and lead clean up. sorry if i offended anyone or their cousin, but this is just the way i feel. it's not that they don't work hard or endanger their lives, it's that the end result is not much better than the DIY'er. molecules of LEAD dust still remain all over the place long after the crew leaves. you really think they get everything, every nook and cranny, LOL!
i grew up in an old home as a kid... 1855, and scraped and painted alongside my dad, ignorant to the situation at the time. guess i got lucky, because i never got lead poisoning.

IMHO, determine what paint can remain and what needs to be removed, if your not stripping everything to bare wood. i'm trying to remove the minimum, just flaking a loose stuff. if it sticks or has a good bond, i'm not going to work at trying to remove it!!

anyway, suit up, tape off any rooms, get yourself a $30 respirator, scrape and clean up in zones. double bag your chips and fine dust from your sander.

OR, you can use a liquid like Jasco Green Strip, best stuff i've used so far... and keep all the paint or airborn dust in a semi-solid form. then dispose of it! i think i went to Ebay or Amazon and bought the stuff in 32oz spray bottles, 12ct for $30. GL, finding it for less per oz somewhere else. it's has super low VOC's!

GL and STAY safe!!

Gymschu · 03-27-2012, 09:45 PM

Definitely check for lead........that is step #1 with any house built before 1978. The most economical way to scrape the peeling paint off is with a carbide bladed scraper. They are $15 to $20 but they remove paint as well as any method I know. Get as much of the peeling paint off as possible then use a circular sander with 40 to 80 grit to remove stubborn areas and to feather out the areas you scraped. It's a lot of elbow grease, but, for the money, it's the most economical method. Again, DO check for lead as creating all that dust will create a hazard for you and your family.

sdsester · 03-28-2012, 05:08 AM

I've used power shavers, then power scrapers, then power sanders and such on antique siding but it is lots of work and it sends everything airborne. And your arms and upper body will get a workout. You may rattle dental work loose with a power shaver though.

I will mention a magical alternative again. An infrared stripper is an amazing tool. Lightweight, fast, safe, neat.

You can rent them but waiting lists will soon be forming as others start in on home exteriors. If you have the cashflow, I would buy one, use for as long as needed and then turn around and sell it. You will not have any trouble getting rid of it and buying and selling it may be cheaper than renting one? At least you will be under no pressure to return it.

I used mine inside and out extensively and it provided one of the best approaches to stripping paint and varnish I ever encountered. Do get one of the rail systems so you can just glide it along hands free for exterior siding. Be warned, a full set up will set you back $400-500 new still I think. I had no trouble justifying the cost of mine.

Of course you still need a SHARP hand scraper or two to go with it. You still have to address lead abatement issues and will want to wear protective clothing and masks. You still have to sand and prep the surface for painting. But getting rid of finish is a snap with one of these. Note the pic of the guy taking off layers of marine finish!