Which is better for stripping wood trim — a chemical stripper or a heat gun?
Chemical stripping is usually the best method to use if you intend to stain and varnish the wood. It’s also a good choice if the original finish was a varnish. If the original finish was paint, you could be in for a big job that might not be worth the effort. It’s often difficult to completely strip paint from the pores, cracks, and joints in wood. For the best results, you have to take the woodwork down and strip it piece by piece. Even if you intend to repaint, chemical strippers often still work better than heat guns. With heat, it’s easy to burn the wood while stripping intricate areas. Chemical strippers are better for preserving fine woodwork details because they lift paint from curves and other hard-to-scrape areas, rather than melting it off. But be careful. Elaborate trim in Victorian-style homes is often made of plaster, which will be ruined by a chemical stripper. Also, chemical strippers contain hazardous components, so you need good ventilation and protective gear. Wear he
