Did you know you can use heat guns for removing all sorts of things including old paint?
Preparing a surface for paint is a process not worth overlooking. There are really two ways to best strip off paint.
You have the heat gun which is not the same as a typical hair dryer (the temperature is much higher) or there are chemical solvents that dissolve paint. Each one has their pluses and minuses.
The biggest benefit to using a heat gun over chemicals is you don’t have to inhale the solvents and strong smells that an industrial strength paint stripper emanates. This is especially important if you have children living inside the house.
Using this method is not a quick process. It takes time to get each area warm enough to use a scraper to remove paint that you’ve applied in the past using a brush or other spray equipment.
Qualities of a Good Paint Removal Tool
First and foremost in my opinion is the ability to have a well designed handle that fits your grip. Porter-Cable has ergonomics in mind when they develop their products. Also, the weight and balance aspect is an important consideration as well. It should be weighted well and not make your forearms overly strained when applying heat to a surface for a considerable period of time.
Finally, the tool should be durable enough to withstand an adequate amount of use. In general, the design of this tool is similar to hair dryers but they get much hotter (in excess of 1000 degrees Fahrenheit some cases).
When to Know It’s Time to Scrape
When the painted area starts peeling off, flaking or is uneven, it may be time start getting to work removing the layers so that a fresh coat of paint using a brush or sprayer can be applied.
How to Use a Heat Gun on Painted Surfaces
Similar to ironing, you should move the heat gun around and not just focus the heat in one area for a long period of time. Once the area gets nice and hot you’ll be able to see the paint start to bubble, scrape the sections of paint off using the scraping tool.
It’s best to do small sections at a time. Keep the gun about an inch away from the wood surface. Occasionally, you’ll get a build up of gunk on the end of the scraper. When that happens, just remove and begin the process again.
Make sure you read the instructions that come with your product thoroughly so that you understand exactly how to operate in the most useful and safe way possible.
The benefit to this process is you don’t have to take in the chemicals that are present when using a solvent striper. Keep in mind that it isn’t a quick process but it really is efficient when using safety measures that come with utilizing a tool that gets fairly hot (including protective eyewear).
Porter-Cable 1500 Watt Heat Gun (Model# PC1500HG)
What I like about Porter-Cable is their products just feel right in your hands. The grips are nice and products are weighted correctly for easy operation and balance.
With this high powered heat gun, removing paint is a small task. The dual fan speed selector allows you to adjust the variation of the power setting from low to high. Compared to a typical hair dryer the fan is much quieter.
A built in control dial lets you modify the temperature to get optimal results – from warm to hot enough to melt plastic.
When it comes time to store you Porter-Cable, use the hanging hook keep it up off the floor or cluttering your work bench.
The PC1500HG gives you the ultimate lightweight product, weighing in at only 2 pounds, it’s simple to hold for longer periods of time than some of the other competitors products.
You’re not limited to just paint removal, the Porter-Cable is rated high enough to also use for plastic pipe bending, taking off tiles with adhesive backing, and many other tasks.
For under $40, the PC1500 is a must have around the home.
Wagner 1,200 Watt Heat Gun (Model# HT100)
The manufacturer of paint sprayers also makes other products like these heat guns. With a BTU rating up to 4100, peeling paint off of wood, removing old rusted bolts, or getting floor tiles loose the Wagner HT100 makes easy work out of seemingly impossible situations.
The temperature setting ranges from 750 – 1000 degrees Fahrenheit. A rugged and impact resistant body keeps the product safe even in a construction site.
Wagner backs their product with a fantastic 2-year warranty in case anything goes wrong.
Applications for this heat gun include paint removal, window tinting, removing caulk around the home, restoring plastic within an automobile, and shrink wrapping.
Cartman 1,500 Watt Heat Gun Kit (9 Piece)
An all-in-one kit, Cartman provides more than just a simple tool to make diy projects more fun. Like the other two products featured here, there is a temperature control on the unit to hone in the preferred heat settings.
The ProTect version is one of the cheapest of the three since it come in a kit. It includes a carrying case, scraper and some other useful tools to make your project go smoothly.
Since this doesn’t have a stand or hook like the other Porter-Cable or Wagner, you may want to create a stand that will help the ProTect cool after use.
It doesn’t have the rugged and durable features that the other two featured products here have. That’s the trade off when buying a cheaper product.
Seekone Variable Control Heat Gun
Seekone’s variable control nob on the back of the gun gives you the flexibility to adjust heat levels from 120 to 1200 degrees Fahrenheit.
Depending on the texture or type of paint, the control nob feature adds increased capability for tough or very old paint that hasn’t already started peeling off.
Included in this set are all the tools you need to work on your paint project. 5 nozzles provide focused heat from narrow to wide depending on the type of object you are going work on.
A scraper and putty knife helps remove the paint as it starts to heat up. In all there are 7 accessories and handy carrying case to transport your heat gun or store it for later.
The companies recommended setting on the heat level for removing paint is around 1000 degrees. Many of those who have provided a review have said the variable knob control is one of the main reasons they chose this model.
