How to remove thick & cracked paint from an old door

[Yukster]

I've got an old door that I'd like to repaint. It's an external door to a building with flats, so ventilation is good. The old paint is cracked and has started to peel off. I don't know if it's lead paint or not. I presume I'll need to remove the old paint before repainting it. What is the best way of doing that?

 

[Wayners]

Heat gun.

Paint strippers are not so good these days

 

[Yukster]

Heat gun.

Paint strippers are not so good these days

Got a heat gun, but that is tricky if it's lead paint. How do I do this safely?

 

[Wayners]

Got a heat gun, but that is tricky if it's lead paint. How do I do this safely?

Buy a test kit for lead

 

[Yukster]

I removed the old paint and sanded it back to bare wood. Do I need to use a primer and an undercoat before painting it white?

 

[Wayners]

Coverstain is a good primer for new and old wood

 

[Yukster]

Coverstain is a good primer for new and old wood

I got Cover Stain and applied the first coat. The description says it may be used under any solvent-based or water-based topcoat. But the person in the paint shop said that it will peel off if I use a water-based topcoat. What is your advice?

 

[Wayners]

I normally apply an acrylic primer over the coverstain but have also skipped this depending on the top coat i am using. Trick is to allow for coverstain to fully cure vs going over too soon .

 

[opps]

Got a heat gun, but that is tricky if it's lead paint. How do I do this safely?

From memory, even the Health and Safety Executive say that using a heatgun on lead paint is ok if you keep the temperature at 450 degrees centigrade.

The following says 500 degrees though

https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/cis79.pdf

 

[opps]

The paint warms up under the influence of a building hairdryer, becomes soft. After that, the coating can be easily removed with a spatula. If the tool temperature is set too high, the base of the tree may be damaged. Different types of wood have their own limits of thermal exposure. Be careful!

Tree?

 

[Why Not Indeed]

Tree?

You queried "tree" but not "building hairdryer"? I think somebody is auto-translating their replies in this thread.