How to use a heat gun to remove paint
Check your paint
Before you start stripping paint, it’s important to check whether you have lead paint in your home. Lead paint can be dangerous, particularly to pregnant women and children, so it’s important to make sure the paint you’ll be stripping doesn’t contain lead. Lead paint was widely used until the mid 1960s but continued to be used in some areas until the 1990s. We recommend following UK government advice on lead paint and if you’re in any doubt, contact a professional.
Heat gun safety
Heat guns can reach very high temperatures, so it’s important to use them with care:
- Always keep your heat gun away from any flammable materials.
- Take care when using your heat gun near any windows.
- Be careful when using your heat gun near copper pipes, particularly near soldered joints that could be weakened.
- Turn off your heat gun before putting it down and allow it to cool before storing it.
- Make sure the area where you’re working is well ventilated.
- Always wear a pair of thick gloves to protect your hands.
- Always wear protective eyewear and an appropriate mask when using your heat gun.
How to use a heat gun:
- Prepare the working area
- Choose the correct nozzle
- Heat & scrape the paint
1. Prepare the working area
Before you start stripping paint, you need to first prepare the area you’ll be working in. Remove any flammable materials and clear any obstructions which could get in your way or cause you to fall while working. Open windows for ventilation and use dust sheets to section off the area and prevent dust spreading to the rest of your home.
2. Choose the correct nozzle
Most heat guns will come equipped with a set of nozzle attachments that change the way heat is distributed from the gun. It’s important to understand the intended use for each of these nozzles so you can use the correct one for the job you’re doing.
Heat gun nozzle types:
- Surface nozzle
- Glass protection nozzle
- Reduction nozzle
- Reflector nozzle
Surface nozzle:
Surface nozzles are designed to spread the hot air over a larger surface area. This is the main nozzle you'll use for stripping paint.
Glass protection nozzle
These nozzles will direct the flow of hot air over a smaller area than surface nozzles. As their name suggests, they are designed for use when stripping paint around delicate areas such as window frames.
Reduction nozzle
Reduction nozzles will focus the heat on a very small area. These are ideal for jobs where you need to be very precise with the application of heat.
Reflector nozzle
This nozzle features a curved surface and is designed for bending and moulding tubing and pipework.
3. Heat & scrape the paint
To start stripping paint, hold your heat gun at a 45 degree angle to the area you’re focusing on. As you hold your heat gun over the paint, the moisture and air underneath the paint will start to expand, causing it to bubble. Hold your heat gun over the paint until this bubbling occurs, then remove the gun and start scraping using a decorators scraper. Don’t leave the gun in one area for more than a few seconds and don’t allow it to burn the paint or wood. If you encounter any stubborn spots of paint, don’t hold the heat gun over the paint until it burns. Instead, go back and sand later.
Your heat gun will have a number of different heat settings, we recommend starting on the lowest setting first, then work up to higher heats if required. If you’re using the heat gun around windows, take extra care not to damage the frames or glass. Use a glass protection nozzle and a low setting.
Alternative options for removing paint
If you don’t want to use a heat gun to remove your paint, you do have other options.
Paint strippers
Paint strippers and removers work to break down the bond between the paint and the surface it’s been painted on so you can remove it with a scraper. There are a number of different paint strippers available for different surfaces.
Sanding
Hand or electric sanders can also be used to remove paint. Sanding is unlikely to remove as much paint as a paint stripper or heat gun. However, it can be a quick and easy method if you need to remove enough so you can paint over the top.
That concludes our guide to removing paint with a heat gun. Once you've removed the paint you'll probably want to add a new coat, so take a look at our range of wood and furniture paints. If you've stripped the paint on a door frame, why not fit a fresh door.