I have been avoiding stripping paint on an old house construction project. Actually, the porch I rebuilt 16 years ago on my last old house construction project needs to be stripped first.
Paint formulation in the past few years has been going though a transformation as volatile compounds are removed in favor of water based mixtures. I use water based paint for everything, except porch floors where the latex substitute just doesn't seem to work well.
So now I have several layers of different formulations of paint on some really sound red pine that needs to be stripped.
I have been eying this really overpriced infrared paint remover for some time and a week of vacation and perpetual procrastination seemed like a tipping point to cough up the money.
Chemical Paint removers wind up in landfills and soak the wood with stuff that may retard a lasting finish
Sanding is really time consuming and makes alot of dust possibly making lead airborne and takes away the wood.
This device works by heating the paint with infrared light allowing it to be easily separated with a pull scraper. And it works.
The unit operates below the vapor point of lead so it isn't burned off into your lungs like may occur with a heat gun. The lower temperature of the unit also lowers fire risk over a heat gun.
Energy-wise it uses alot of electricity (1100 watts) that maybe produced by coal or some other non-renewable resource. For argument sake, I will be optimistic and say my electrons came from nuclear or the York Haven Hydro Station, which has quietly and cleanly been producing power since 1904.
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