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
6
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
a scraping knife (a 2-inch-
wall scraper works best) to
scrape the loosened paint.
Preheat scraper as you are
heating the paint surface.
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 ground-down blades
and linoleum knives are
often used.
3) Move switch to "Low" after
use. Run for three minutes
and turn to "Off" .
NOTE:
Users should independently
evaluate the suitability of the
product for their application.