Mechanical tools, such as a scraper, wire brush, or painter’s tool, usually work in tandem with chemical paint strippers, all-natural paint strippers, a heat gun, sander, or vinegar. Some devices, like a heat gun, work best in situations like removing paint from weatherboards and wood. Depending on the condition of your boards, chemical strippers and sanding might also be necessary. When removing paint from aluminum, you might want to use a chemical or natural stripper recommended for metal and a paint scraper to complete the task. Take a look at six paint stripping tools used to remove paint from exteriors, making your paint stripping task go smoother and more efficiently. The theory behind heat guns is to subject the exterior paint to temperatures that will cause the paint to wilt away. Temperatures should be calibrated to remain short of damaging or burning the house. A heat gun will not cause all of the paint to fall away by itself. Instead, consider a heat gun to supplement manual paint stripping. Imagine a high-quality manual hairdryer, then multiply the heat several times more. Much safer than the traditional butane torch, a heat gun has no open flame. Heat guns are relatively inexpensive and have many other uses around the house, such as drying wet building materials or softening vinyl or leather. A paint scraper looks a lot like a putty knife, except a paint scraper is stiffer and less flexible than a putty knife. Sometimes, a putty knife is preferred for removing old paint from a surface because it’s so bendable, allowing you to strip paint while holding the knife at a lower angle. Paint scrapers usually cost a few bucks more than putty knives. Using a tool that is too sharp to strip paint works against you. Instead of lifting away paint, it gouges into the work surface. Even though a putty knife is not intended for stripping paint, it does an excellent job. Don’t let the edge be too dull. The dull edge is less likely to gouge the siding, allowing you to press harder on the knife. To maintain the perfect edge for your putty knife or paint scraper, run it over a whetstone a few times. If you have a grinding wheel, use that. In the case of paint stripping, the smooth blade implement works best since it is thin enough to get under the paint layer you intend to remove. While the oscillating paint scraper is thorough and fast, you risk gouging the house siding when using this type of blade to remove paint. Oscillating multi-tool scrapers are great in areas where there will be no close examination of the surface. Use this tool when you have a layer of paint already coming up at the edge. To create an open edge, briefly run a heat gun over the paint, then lift with the putty knife or painter’s tool. A utility knife is valuable for stripping paint, but it’s not used for scraping paint off flat surfaces. A utility knife doesn’t have the correct shape and angle for reaching under and lifting off paint layers. Use the utility knife for pulling up loose chips of paint or scoring paint along the edges of items that need to be removed, such as electrical or utility boxes, cords, door trim, and window casing. Like the putty knife, occasionally ground down its sharper edge. The 8-in-1 tool’s edge is far sharper than the putty knife, so it should last for a few working hours before it needs sharpening. The sharp point is great at digging into cracks and removing old paint or caulk. Its point is far better than the utility knife because it is less prone to cutting into the surface. Unlike the putty knife, do not bend the 8-in-1 tool. Push at a low angle, keeping the tool straight. A wire brush is great for sloughing away remaining paint chips after you have already used the other tools. Wet wire brushes can develop rust. Keep one on hand at all times and keep it dry.
