Replies

1. 
   prosecho | Mar 25, 2007 08:29pm | #1

   I was wondering the same thing.

   Bump

2. 
   BryanSayer | Mar 25, 2007 10:35pm | #2

   I think if you do a search, the Metabo has been discussed before. If I remember correctly, it is generally liked except for a specific piece of the shroud which breaks easily. There is also the paint shaver, which is a single disk version of the same principal.

   Plan on a vac with a HEPA filter.

1. 
   cabo | Mar 26, 2007 03:46am | #6

   thanks for the advice.

1. 
   rustbucket | Mar 26, 2007 09:52pm | #7

   Pending on the condition for $600.00...alot of trim can be replaced...end result...better finish. A new ROS and carbide scraper less than an hundred.

   rustbucket

1. 
   rondon | Mar 27, 2007 12:03am | #8

   I bought the paint shaver pro last year to remove all the paint on a 100 hear old house.  It does take some getting use to, but work great.  Did one side last fall and have the other three sides to do this summer.  I had better results with my random orbital sander that with their sanding unit.  I know they are expensive, but you could sell it on e-bay when done.  You should be able to get 2/3 of you cost back

1. 
   rasher | Mar 27, 2007 12:44am | #9

   Second on the Paint Shaver. Worked great for us. VERY expensive, but I haven't had the heart to sell it yet. I guess maybe its time.

2. 
   BryanSayer | Mar 27, 2007 01:10am | #10

   As I recall, you used to be able to sell the paint shaver back to the company. They would sell used ones whenever they had them.

3. 
   rondon | Mar 27, 2007 04:04am | #12

   That may be true, but I am not aware of it.  Just check e-bay once and I am sure you can find used ones there.

3. 
   zak | Mar 25, 2007 11:13pm | #3

   In leiu of first hand experience- FHB had an article on stripping paint a couple years ago.  They guy who wrote the article had the metabo and the paint shaver, and said that the paint shaver was much faster, but the metabo got into small areas better.  He used both, along with hand scraping.

   zak

   "When we build, let us think that we build forever.  Let it not be for present delight nor for present use alone." --John Ruskin

   "so it goes"

    

4. 
   McDesign | Mar 25, 2007 11:21pm | #4

   I've got the Paint shaver; works well with a little practice.  Also consider the "Silent Paint Remover" (infrared) for trim.

   Forrest

1. 
   xMike | Mar 26, 2007 03:42am | #5

   The only downside to the paintshaver is it's $600 price.

5. 
   LeeLamb | Mar 27, 2007 01:23am | #11

   I know you said mechanically but I had a great success on my 50+ year old Andersens with a Wagner heat gun (couldn't find a Milwaukee). I kept it moving so I wouldn't scorch the frames.  I placed a large fan aimed at my head behind me to control fumes. It went fairly fast.  Finished up with a Porter Cable ROS with 100 grit. 

1. 
   MikeK | Mar 27, 2007 05:37am | #13

   Heat guns are a very dangerous method to remove paint from an old house. They blow hot air inside the wall assembly which can ignite embers. There are several homes on my block which have caught fire from heat gun paint removal.  Same scenario on both homes. Homeowners went to bed, all was fine. Slow burning embers inside the wall eventually caught the house on fire in the middle of the night.

   I removed the paint from most of my 1890's house using a Silent Paint Remover. It works very well on clapboards. It heats the wood which then releases all the layers of paint at once. Nice thing is that the wood is smooth after scraping, requiring almost no sanding.  I would recommend this tool as it it more safe compared to a heat gun, because it doesn't blow hot air into the wall. Also it operates at a temperature below that of most heat guns. That being said I would recommend NOT using it on soffits. If there is debris in the soffit from the attic, or an old animal nest it can ignite. Just ask me how I know (damn squirrels). I ended up taking down and replacing all my soffitt boards. Always, always have a water hose nearby when using heat.

   Good luck what ever method you chose. Make sure you are carefull about all the lead paint scrappings and dust. The SPR removed the paint in big soft chunks which hardened by the time they hit the ground. Probably a lot less dust then grinding the paint off.