Heat gun vs chemical paint remover? Well, each method has unique upsides and downsides when it comes to paint removal…

Question is: which is better?

Read about the pros and cons of each below and make the best choice.

Heat gun vs chemical paint remover – Advantages of chemical stripping

·        Works like a charm

When removing coatings on wood, metal, and other materials, chemical strippers do a fantastic job on old film coats.

Of course, you’ll need to check that the chemicals have been completely cleared from the body once you’re done stripping otherwise the residuals may mess your new paint.

Simply put, the greatest upside of chemical stripping is the resulting beautiful, smooth, and clean raw surface when you have used the correct procedure.

Heat gun vs chemical paint remover – disadvantages of chemical stripping

·        Chemical strippers are messy

Whether you’re restoring some antique pieces or repainting the interior of your apartment, we all know that chemical stripping is really messy, no matter how hard I try.

To make matters worse, chemical strippers are smelly (always work outdoors).

·        Chemical stripping is expensive

The other downside is that chemical-based paint-stripping products can end up costing more since you often have to use more to remove heavy paint build-ups.

·        Paint remover chemical formula is hazardous

Chemical strippers work good but there’s no denying that they’re made of nasty stuff.

In fact, the main active ingredient in high-performing chemical paint strippers- dichloromethane (methylene chloride)- poses serious health risks and has actually been banned in a significant number of countries.

Unsurprisingly, incidences of paint remover poisoning whose symptoms include respiratory and urination difficulties, nausea, headache, severe abdominal pain, etc. are increasingly becoming common especially among DIYers.

You may as well suffer other paint remover side effects such as severe skin burns, sore throat after stripping paint, vision issues including vision loss, etc.

The good news is that “Green” strippers – much safer for you and the environment-have been rising in popularity and are available in local stores.

The only thing we dislike about them- if you’re to take that route- is that more applications are generally required to remove all the paint completely.

·        Chemicals are bad for some surfaces

Overall, the chemicals in chemical-based paint strippers react with fiberglass, plastic parts, etc. and are unsafe to use for paint stripping jobs on such surfaces

 

Heat gun vs chemical paint remover – upsides of using a heat gun

Heat guns are as well an amazing way to get rid of old paint, varnish, and a wide variety of other finishes on wood, brick, metal, concrete,  stone, etc.- virtually any surface.

Here’s how a heat gun triumphs over chemical stripping:

·        Economical for DIYers

First, a heat gun is an economical way of removing paint – they’re not expensive and it’s a tool you’ll use for years.

To put it into perspective, even a high impact heat gun like the best-selling SEEKONE 1800W model comes at an incredible price (check the current promotional price here).

·        Other pros

1.       Easy to use- Heat guns are not difficult to use and you’ll be good to go with a few basics (look for tutorials on YouTube about proper timing for easier scraping when working with a heat gun).

2.       Less messy- A heat gun is not as messy as chemical strippers even if for beginners. Admittedly, paint scrapings will still fall and even stick to the shoes but the mess is nowhere near that created by chemical paint strippers.

Heat gun vs chemical paint remover – drawbacks of heat guns

Because they’re without the litter associated with chemical strippers and the expense you pay for professional paint-stripping services, heat guns may seem to be the perfect solution for old paint.

But are they?

Keep reading for their shortcomings:

·        Not an option if tackling lead-based paint

You are likely to inhale toxic heat gun paint stripping fumes if you use the tool to remove paint applied before 1980s- some paints were lead based in those years.

Your safety comes first so it’s best to hire a professional to do it for you if you must remove old paint with a heat gun.

·        Fire hazard

High temperatures can trigger fires if you’re not keen when ‘burning’ layers of unsightly paint with a heat gun.

Besides, wood and plaster walls can be easily scorched at extremely high temperatures (remember they can operate at more than 1500°F).

To reduce the risk of fire, always work with a temp setting that is just sufficient to soften the paint if you choose this method.

Heat gun vs chemical paint remover – Which is better?

Here is what we think….

Consider a heat gun if:

·         You want speed– A powerful heat gun one will get the coatings- even the most stubborn ones- out quicker by far.

·         You’re looking for a cost-effective solution – You’ll end up spending more on paint strippers such as sodium hydroxide paint remover if you consider that purchasing a heat gun is a one-off cost.

·         You are working on multi layered paint– Most chemical-based paint strippers struggle to dissolve thicker layers of paint.

·         You want a cleaner job- A heat gun is cleaner by a country mile.

Consider chemical stripping if:

·         The paint has lead in it– If the lead test has turned positive (do a DIY lead paint test), chemical stripping with a product like Citristrip Paint/Varnish Stripping Gel is safer.

·         You’re dealing with water-based paint– Heat does not work well on any water-based paints and the easiest option is to use a chemical-based paint stripper like Thermoguard Thermostrip Pro.

Ultimately, it comes down to the method that delivers your desired results- and there are alternatives you can consider if neither method appeals to you including sanding (with an electric sander), homemade paint remover (cheaper), using a blow torch instead of a heat gun, etc.

Tip: Wear protection such as gloves and observe all the essential precautions including ensuring proper ventilation whatever method you pick.

Over to you.

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