Posted by Frank Michaels on January 10, 1998 at 08:04:39:
In Reply to: Stripping paint from and refinishing wood posted by K.Daniel on January 10, 1998 at 00:53:09:
You have two options that I am aware of; heat or chemical stripper. Each has advantages and disadvantages.
Heat stripping is fast and cheap. You buy a butane torch and a set of scrapers, and remove the paint by melting it with the torch. The downside is that you probably will scortch the wood until you learn how to control the torch. If the trim is to be repainted, scortching can be covered by new paint. With trim that will be refinished to show the wood, you have real problems.
Chemical stripping is more expensive, especially if you have very moch material to strip and it sounds like you do. Chemical strippers generally stink, and many should be used only with lots of fresh air. The "environmentally friendly", water-based strippers don't work as well as the organic solvent products in my experience. Maybe someone else can offer advice here. In any case, the stuff is caustic and you need to protect your hands with gloves.
With both methods, you will need to sand the trim, and must remember that you are surely dealing with at least on coat of old lead-based paint. So get a good mask ( not just a dust mask), and arrange to collect all the mess to prevent potential toxicity problems; especially if you have kids around.
My suggestion is to try both, and find the one you like best. Start with trim in an area where your mistakes won't show as much as the living room.
You are looking at a lot of work, but the end result is worth it.
Good luck.