Heat gun advice?

[Pford75]

The drawings etc. for our LBC application are now complete and hopefully we can soon begin removing the paint from the front of the building.

Our CO has suggested heat removal (rather than chemical stripping). A small blowtorch worked well.....but frankly the size of the building makes that impractical. Can anyone advise on the difference between the various heat guns available? There seems to be a wide price differential between the cheapest and most expensive

 

[Feltwell]

My advice would be a blowtorch will be infinitely quicker than a heat gun!

If you're talking about the small domestic electric heatguns, a blowtorch in my experience is much quicker. I do prefer a heatgun on wood though as you're less likely to scorch the wood.

I'm surprised the CO is against chemical stripping - did he /she say why?

 

[Pford75]

I was surprised as well...I think the main objection was the water used to wash it off resulting in the soaking of bricks. I'd always assumed that chemical stripping was preferable (not least because of the risk of lead in the paint), but took the view that the CO knows a lot more about this than me....

One of our resident experts care to comment?

 

[Feltwell]

I can see why a soaking might not be desireable in winter - in case the bricks get so waterlogged they spall when freezing weather comes - but at this time of year, when there is plenty of opportunity for drying, I can't see the problem. I think I'd be tempted to speak to Strippers of Sudbury and see what they can advise for chemical stripping - I seem to remember their website contains images of complete buildings that have been stripped.

There is steam system called DOFF that I've seen, but it doesn't look that gentle for use on an old building. I personally would want a lot more information before going down that route.

 

[Penners]

I tend to Feltwell's point-of-view that a blowtorch is likely to be much quicker than a heat gun. Although I suspect that the chemical stripping might outstrip ( :lol: ) them both - particularly if the bricks have a very grainy surface that could affect the use of a scraper with the blowtorch.

But ultimately I think it would be advisable to have empirical evidence before making your final choice of method. Why not try a test area of blowtorch and ditto of chemical?

:shock: :shock:

 

[Flyfisher]

Yes, that should be OK for a small test area.

 

[Moo]

And you could then invite your CO round to discuss the results.

 

[JoceAndChris]

Just on the heat guns - I always use the DeWalt ones that around £30. I'm now on number 3. (perhaps indication that we should buy more expensive heat guns, but partly my own fault as I tend not to tie up my hair and they tend to suck it in and blow up)

I can't imagine stripping the whole of BC with it, never mind your enormous house. You'd need a little army of people with heat guns.

I hope the CO can be persuaded that chemical means are suitable as it does sound infinitely quicker.

A heat gun can cause terrible inadvertent damage to old glass if you are stripping near windows as well. There's no perfect solution.

 

[Feltwell]

Just on the heat guns - I always use the DeWalt ones that around £30. I'm now on number 3. (perhaps indication that we should buy more expensive heat guns, but partly my own fault as I tend not to tie up my hair and they tend to suck it in and blow up)

I'l let you into a little trade secret Joce. Dewalt are part of the same group as Black & Decker. Whilst some Dewalt tools are undoubtedly of a good quality, on the whole I think the price they charge versus the quality of their products has got much worse since B&D became involved. On some of the cheaper tools, such as heat guns, if you compare the Dewalt tool to the B&D one then some could draw the conclusion that they are exactly the same item, but you're paying more for yellow plastic and a Dewalt sticker. Of course I could not possibly comment on this :wink:

I'd stick with Makita myself - a bit more expensive but a lot more durable

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/62534/Power-Tools/Heat-Guns/Makita-HG5012K-240V-Heat-Gun

The hair can't help though - and doesn't burning hair smell awful!

 

[JoceAndChris]

Thanks for that Feltwell! Lovely to have some insider information, Chris will be interested to hear that too.

When my current DeWalt one blows up I'll get a Makita then.

And yes, burning hair smells awful, and doesn't look that great either!

 

[Moneypit]

I used to think that paying more would gain a better tool and that is certainly the case with tools that require powerful motors, but my experience with heat guns is that cheap is generally good enough. It is probably the heating elements that fail and that is probably mostly due to putting it down too harshly when just switched off. With my latest Focus own brand cheapo model I have been really gentle with it and it seems to be lasting forever. Mind you I do have short hair.

 

[HeatherJ]

I love my Speedheater. (I have been more successful at avoiding scorching surfaces with it than a heat gun - I dread to think what I would set fire to with a blow torch) I have used it to remove paint from a brick fireplace and it has done a pretty handy job...
-HeatherJ

 

[Joiner]

I'm amazed your CO advised heat. In all the years I worked on old buildings around South Shropshire (and some neighbouring counties) heat was a definite no-go because of the potential for damage to the fabric (especially on old wood, desiccated over time it would harden further with heat). If a CO saw any sign of heat having been used they'd have had a hissy fit and threatened to withhold grants, you'd certainly find they wouldn't recommend you to any other enquirers looking for 'conservation specialists' because they wouldn't trust you again.

It did cause problems with costing if you were to put in an honest quote because you were up against other guys who'd put chemical stripping on their schedule but then use heat, pricing the job for the time taken using heat and therefore undercutting you.

And of course, chemical stripping isn't all that effective on some paints anyway, at which time you had to apply as gentle a heat as possible from a hot air gun, but I would always advise the CO of the situation. A gun using a flame shouldn't be allowed within a mile of a building of significant age and character.

As one ex-CO in this area said of one my customers: "If she can't afford to have the work done properly she shouldn't have bought a Listed building." Bit harsh, but true; it's why conservation grants exist. Well, used to before the cuts.

 

[Pford75]

Must confess that I too thought it a little strange that the CO was so set against chemical stripping. Especially since I have had a test pot from Strippers of Sudbury and was able to demonstrate that the paint came off without any damage to the substrate.

No wish to upset our CO - but to what extent can the CO insist on a particular method...vs insisting on the end result and the materials?

 

[Feltwell]

No wish to upset our CO - but to what extent can the CO insist on a particular method...vs insisting on the end result and the materials?

That was exactly what I was thinking - I don't see how they can insist on a particular method, although I'm sure a large part of their role is guiding people not to use inappropriate methods that can cause damage. A trial area and then show the CO I reckon is the way to go.

Gareth, can you comment?

 

[Penners]

if you are stripping near windows

Yes, I would always advocate care when doing this.

 

[FamilyWiggs]

if you are stripping near windows

Yes, I would always advocate care when doing this.

Joce was wondering why the sudden increase in very slow dog walkers since she and Chris moved in to BC !! :wink:

 

[essexbearhunter]

And yes, burning hair smells awful, and doesn't look that great either!

The combination immediately brings to mind "The Amazing World of Arthur Brown" and the nights when it didn't go quite to plan http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uq_HLfzEaM&feature=related (sorry there is no sound).

For those who don't remember, this is how the performance should have gone:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69K0bdOAChw&feature=related

 

[JoceAndChris]

:shock: That man needs to calm down, and get a few cream teas inside him!

Joce was wondering why the sudden increase in very slow dog walkers since she and Chris moved in to BC

Sweet, but they'd be more likely to report me to the RSPCB for bird-scaring these days.

 

[AMc]

I'l let you into a little trade secret Joce. Dewalt are part of the same group as Black & Decker....On some of the cheaper tools, such as heat guns, if you compare the Dewalt tool to the B&D one then some could draw the conclusion that they are exactly the same item...

I'd stick with Makita myself - a bit more expensive but a lot more durable

All my tradesmen recommended Makita except one who insisted on a matching set of Dewalts - he also warned me off Dewalt's cheaper tools. As a DIYer even with heavy use I couldn't stomach £200 for a cordless drill but if you use it all day, every day to earn your living it can make sense - esp. with spare batteries which are often almost as expensive as the tools and the trade packs tend to include many.
Last time I bought a higher end B&D cordless figuring it was about the same quality as Dewalt but was on 25% off in Homebase + 10% off day which made it sensibly affordable. I also replaced my corded drill because the offer made it cheaper than the replacement chuck I needed.

Screwfix made a big deal recently about pointing out that their "Site" branded tools are made by Makita. I don't think they're all interchangeable but if/when I need a new cordless I'll be looking at their range too.

Spot the difference...
http://www.screwfix.com/prods/31544/Power-Tools/Cordless-Drills/Site-SMB800-14-4V-Cordless-Combi-Drill
http://www.screwfix.com/prods/24285/Power-Tools/Cordless-Drills/Makita-8281DWPE3-14-4V-Combi-Drill

And
http://www.screwfix.com/prods/49414/Power-Tools/Cordless-Drills/Site-SMB601-14-4V-Cordless-Drill-Driver
http://www.screwfix.com/prods/55827/Power-Tools/Cordless-Drills/Makita-6281DWPE3-14-4V-Cordless-Drill-Driver

Sadly they don't do a Site heatgun