So, for the past three months I have been chipping paint here and there but never an all out effort to get the beast painted. However in my defence, I knew I was going to have to strip the
paint off the entire house in order for it to last. 84 years of paint have left an alligator skin that is peeling off in sheets in some areas.
Paint removal methods:
1> Chemical Stripper - messy, costly and not all that effective. I tried it on the cedar siding, it did not make it all the way thru the layers and left a bubbly chunky mess. Will be trying on the eaves this weekend, they are beadboard under all those layers but, by looking at it no one would ever have known. I would really like to see the detail coming threw just one paint job.
2> Porter cable siding sander- This thing looks like it would work awesome, at $350.00 online it was a little more than I wanted to spend but I found one on e-bay for just over a hundred, got it and it was broke. I guess I will never know how that would have worked.
3> Heat gun - works great for small area and detail but its a bit labourious and can over heat the wood causing fire.
4> The silent paint remover - awesome product but the price tag was a killer.
5> Pro- shaver - I think this would have been the best thing to use but the $1000 price tag was way to much to spend. Totally worth a look if you can bring yourself to part with that kind of coin.
6> Wagner paint heater - This little thing cost me $60.00 new on amazon. It is the cheap chicks alternative to the silent paint remover. I love this thing!! It is awesome for doing the siding that is not damaged and has a ton of layer of paint on bubbling up a 6 inch section in seconds for scraping. it does not work great on damaged siding or thin paint were it bubbles up but doesn't scrape off well. for the money I saved and how light it is I think this is the best investment made on tool to date.
7> Paint Eater - Wegner makes a rotor paint tool that has a mesh abrasive pad that sands off paint at a pretty rapid pace. Because I am super broke all the time I found a $30.00 option at Harbour freight, saving me $50.00. It works great but I tried to change the sanding disc last night and I can't get it off will call them to see what can be done about that. Since I am on full press with this removal and painting thing I hope another 2 1/2 hr round trip is not in my future.
The combo of the heat gun, heat pad and paint eater (along with a random orbit sander) seems to be the best to me but, I would have really liked to try the paint shaver pro. Maybe next year when I do the south and east sides of the house. I can't wait to see it all done.
