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What is the best way to get paint off my old wooden doors?
The doors have layers upon layers of old paint (including lead paint). They are nice solid wood doors and I would like to show that off. I would like to keep the natural wood showing and put a finish on them. so what is the best way to get all of the paint off?
Answer: All of the answers above are good. Just to add my thoughts.
If you use chemical stripper do not use any product that is 'Methylene Chloride' based. That product is highly carcinogen. The blanket type stripper is called "Peel-Away" Good product but makes a great deal of waste sludge.
If you have them dipped the glue joints may be loosened but can be re-glued. Be advised that when you get them back they will not be ready for stain and varnish. They will be "fuzzy" and need sanding. As noted above there will be lead in the wood so this sanding will require extreme caution.
A heat gun can work well but if left on the paint too long can turn the paint into a vapor and be very dangerous. The max 1100 degrees F is a Federal number. In the state of Oregon the max is 750 and even at that low temp can still burn the paint and vapor it. Never use an open flame to soften paint.
In all cases you should work out doors if possible. Contain the area with 4 or 6 mill poly. For your own protection use a 1/2 face negative pressure respirator fitted with purple, HEPA type, filters. Each time you leave the work area de-con your cloths and shoes. Never allow children or pets in the work area.
For more info please read http://home.mindspring.com/~wrltc/lswp.pdf A book I wrote for parents doing re-modeling or having it done. It was paid for by a fed/state grant. Which means its your book as much as mine. Education about this subject is my job.
For more direct questions please contact me at wrltc@mindspring.com And feel free to pass this along to others.
EDIT: If your doing any vacuuming do NOT! use your household vac. At Home Depot you can buy a Ridge brand wet and dry shop vac for about 50.00. And you can also get a HEPA type filter for it for about 30.00. Always use HEPA vac's when dealing with lead dust.
