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Changed my mind about using a heat gun for finish removal
I was working on a big oak dresser in my garage, trying to strip off about five layers of old varnish. I had my heat gun out, the one I've used for years, and I was going at a corner. The wood got way too hot, way too fast, and I heard this quiet crack. I pulled the gun back and saw a hairline split starting right along the grain. My heart just sank. I shut everything off and sat there for a minute, thinking I'd just ruined a good piece. I ended up switching to a chemical stripper for the rest of it, which was slower and smellier, but it got the finish off without any more damage. I filled the crack with some tinted epoxy and it's barely visible now, but it was a real wake-up call. I used to think heat guns were the best tool for the job, but now I'm way more careful about the wood type and how much heat I'm putting into one spot. Has anyone else had a close call like that with a heat gun on solid wood?
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kim_ramirez318d ago
Lee's right about the layers, but that's exactly where it gets tricky. The heat builds up under all that old finish and can't escape. I learned to keep the gun moving constantly, almost like you're painting with it. Even a few seconds too long on oak or another dense wood is asking for trouble.
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