The easiest way to remove old varnish and paint from wood

A scraper and a heat gun are very useful tools for removing varnish and paint. It's much faster than sanding, and you can even use the scraper to remove discolored wood and light trimming. That way you'll only need a light sanding afterward.

The trick is to use a sharp scraper. I prefer the old fashioned type that can be kept sharp with a file, others prefer the modern hard-metal scrapers. In my experience, the hard-metal blades work very well when they are new, but they wear out way too fast, and then you have to replace the (expensive) blade.

[WendySmith-oe]

I know I definitely need one of those scrapers! A scraper you pull, instead of push, seems so much more controllable. I have just about every style of scraper there is, from cheap crap to the most expensive I've seen, and no matter what I'm doing or how careful i try to be, inevitably it comes loose & causes some kinda damage. I'm actually pretty surprised that pull type scrapers aren't more common

[roysandi]

Holy shit, I guess this is the best way to go about it. I just spent 5 hours scraping a door. Now I know better. Thanks for the video

[azertrofaria]

This video sabed my day, and my furniture

[colleentanaanderson]

Thankyou, very helpful, and saves time, great idea

[truthfinder]

best to have a scrapper fallow behind the heat gun as it bubble and move and a n0ther tip start at bottom work way up case heat rise this way as y get there its heat up and not cold as y m0ve

[debbierafferty]

Good video. did you end the video right at the wood was rounded (the edge of the ledge/step)? Did u still use the scraper?

[cindyrae]

Would this method work on an old cedar 70s burl clock covered in Varathane? Thanks.

[wildwoman]

What temp setting do you use? I burned the wood a bit. do you wait until it bubbles or changes color?

[mattjewett]

It saves time, isn't dusty or noisy. I wonder if that heater will max out my 30 amp boat panel?

[ruthgadders]

Im going to buy a paint stripper! Ive tried paint stripper gel its nothing like it used to be !

[brentevans]

do you know how to get water damage out of wood before varnishing

[bmerenbloom]

Show me how you cleaned the rounded edges of the wood!

[martinspilovsky]

Hi, can I ask what temperature are you using ?

[golalehkamran]

Can grey lacquer be safely removed in this way?

[patriciateapot]

Could I use this on very old painted black beams?

[Soruotr]

Do i need ventilation if I'm doing it inside my house?

[jeanrae]

Would this be OK to an old Varathaned burl wall clock? Thanks.

[golondriz]

Can you do this on a laminate floor. My tenant waxed it or varnished it I am not sure but I can scrape the dry spots out . Please let me know

[sicc_sixty]

How long did it take for you to scrape off all the varnish?

[Zolindigo]

What about the edges and inward corners?