Stripping old paint off lap board siding takes substantial effort. But it’s an unavoidable evil if the paint is peeling or splitting, and you want new paint to stick. You can strip siding with grinders and scrapers, or you could use chemicals to dissolve the paint, but the quickest and simplest way to remove the paint would be to work with an infrared heat paint stripper. This tool heats up the paint quickly to loosen its bonding to the wood and doesn’t provide enough heat to present a fire risk. It is the safest way to get rid of lead-based paint.
Establish scaffolding at least 12 inches away from the side of the house you’re stripping. You need that much clearance to hold the infrared paint stripper against the wood.
Protect the siding from end with a tarpaulin. Wind dissipates heat from the infrared stripper and lengthens the time you need to keep it in position before scraping.
Spray a light mist of water to the siding prior to using an infrared paint stripper. This will break the bond between the paint and the wood, and even though the risk of overheating the wood is minimum, it produces operation of this stripper safer.
Grasp the heat removal tool by the handle and carry it with its heat coils flush against the siding and the handle parallel to the management of the wood. Hold it against the siding for 20 to 30 seconds, until the paint begin to bubble and soften.
Remove the instrument and scrape off the paint with a pull scraper. Avoid touching the paint together with your hands — it’s hot enough to burn your fingers. If you can not easily scrape all the paint, then do not over-scrape, or you might damage the wood. You may use the tool, but it will work better if you take care of the wood first.
Mix a solution of 80 percent boiled linseed oil and 20 percent mineral spirits, and paint it to the siding with a paintbrush. Allow it to sit overnight, then heat the wood with the infrared removal tool and then scrape. Rub off whatever paint stays with moderate steel wool.