Replies

1. 
   WayneL5 | Jan 30, 2006 05:50am | #1

   Sanblasting will expose you to considerable lead and will damage the surfaces.  Hand scraping is safer.

2. 
   McDesign | Jan 30, 2006 06:20am | #2

   Use a PaintShaver - noisy as hell, but it works and will collect most of the dust.  Or a SpeedHeater - slow, but quiet.  I have both, and situations are appropriate for both.

   Forrest

1. 
   Marikko | Jan 31, 2006 06:02am | #3

   thanks for the advice. How do you choose which to use?
   Marikko

1. 
   McDesign | Jan 31, 2006 06:14am | #4

   The Paint Shaver is really fast on flat areas, but can be hard to control (digs and swirls) on badly cupped boards, or when your attention wanders, and will rip out any nails you didn't set, and fling them, plus it won't get into corners - the cutting head is about 3-1/2" in diameter.  But, it leaves a bright new wood surface that's planed flat when you do it right.  But, you've got the cutter (based on a Hitachi angle grinder), the vacuum hose, your shop-vac, all up on the scaffolding or the roof

   The SpeedHeater is quiet, gets everywhere equally, supposedly doesn't get as hot as a heat gun, so less lead fumes.  It's too heavy to hold with your left hand, so get the little carriage and strut assembly - which can be time consuming to set up. 

   Basically, I use a Milwaukee heat gun and shave-hook scrapers for anything less than about 4-5 square feet, 'cuz I can just go start; the Paint Shaver on siding and facia & corner boards if they're flat-ish, and the SpeedHeater and scrapers for everything else.  Clear?

   Forrest

1. 
   Marikko | Jan 31, 2006 07:23pm | #7

   Thanks

3. 
   Stuart | Jan 31, 2006 06:22am | #5

   You didn't mention this, but are you talking just about loose paint on the trim, or are you talking about the walls as well?

   Scrapers and a heat gun work well on trim, once you get the hang of it.  Chemical strippers (Zip-Strip, etc.) also do the job, but they can be messy.  Like someone else said, in a house that old it's likely there is lead paint, so you need to take the appropriate precautions.

    

1. 
   Marikko | Jan 31, 2006 07:21pm | #6

   It's walls, trim, ceilings . . . s ome spots are sounds, others in various states.
   Mark