Paint Stripping Safety Instructions
1)WARNING: With a heat gun, as with all other heat tools, keep a fire extinguisher handy and observe all sensible fire precautions.
We do not recommend using this heat gun on hollow surfaces such as outdoor siding, walls, soffits, panels and partitions, etc. These areas often contain flammable materials such as dust, wood chips, insulation, rodent nests and other debris which could accidentally ignite.
Your heat gun is best used for stripping paint from solid woodwork with ins and outs, such as solid interior trim, mouldings, turnings, doors balusters and porch trim, etc.
When stripping paint, always keep the heat gun moving in a continuous back and forth motion. Stopping or pausing too long in one spot could ignite the surface you are working on or the area behind it.
2)Do not breathe or swallow lead based paint in any form. Many old homes and other buildings contain lead based paint. Dust, scrapings, residues and vapors of lead based paint are extremely poisonous. Prevent possible lead poisoning when stripping this type of paint by using adequate ventilation (such as a window fan in the
exhaust mode), and keeping a clean work area. When dust or vapors are present, use a respirator designed to filter lead. Move work outside when possible.
Failure to follow adequate safety precautions when working with lead based paint could result in lead poisoning. See our Paint Stripping instructions for more information.
3)Keep away from chemical paint strippers which can ignite or release harmful vapors.
4)Use adequate ventilation (such as a window fan in exhaust mode) and keep your work area clean.
5)Wear gloves and safety glasses at all times.
6)Keep a fully charged fire extinguisher close at hand.
7)Stay alert, watch what you are doing, and use common sense.
Stripping Paint
1)To strip paint, turn unit on and hold it about 1 inch from the surface being stripped. Proper distance and speed of stripping should be determined by experience. It is an advantage to hold the gun further from the surface and to move forward slowly. Slower speed is compensated by the wider
softened areas. Heat will also penetrate deeper.
2)As paint begins to blister and bubble, move gun slowly in a steady progression across the surface. Follow closely with
ascraping knife (a
This increases the speed of paint stripping.
a.Removal of paint by using heat is based on the fact that all organic paints soften at elevated temperatures. When soft, the paint can be easily lifted off without damage to the surface.
b.When stripping paint from grooves in mouldings, you can devise your own scraping tools. Old screwdrivers with
3)Move switch to "Low" after use. Run for three minutes and turn to “Off”.
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