I want to re-paint some old furniture. Is it safe to chemically remove the old paint first?
The furniture was probably made in the 1950s or earlier, and I have no idea if the paint that is on it currently is from that time as well or if it was re-painted later… What I’m concerned about is whether there might be lead in the paint. There are also a couple of layers of much newer paint on the furniture as well, which is why I think I should strip it all off before painting on a fresh coat–especially because I want to use simple spray-paint (which I understand does not have wonderful converage to begin with). I know I can buy a lead test kit, but I’m trying to do this as absolutely cheaply as possible.
Is it safe to use chemical paint removers on older furniture? The removers I have read about online say you have to scrape off the paint once the chemical absorbs. Is this method safer than sanding or heat removal?
Chemical stripping is better than sanding because you won’t be inhaling the dust. If you can, consider taking the item to a chemical strippers where they will dip it in a caustic soda bath.
Lead Paint Testing Demo – http://www.check4lead.com
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National evaluation of the US Department of Housing and Urban Development Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control Grant Program: Study methods [An article from: Environmental Research] $10.95 This digital document is a journal article from Environmental Research, published by Elsevier in 2005. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Media Library immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.Description: The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) undertook an evaluation of its Lead Hazard Control Grant Program between… |