Sould I be concerned about removing lead paint with a heat gun?

[Paschale]

Hi all,

This weekend, I'm planning on replacing a rotted base on a pillar on my front porch.  I want to totally repaint the pillar, and thought about using a heat gun to loosen the paint.  It's an old house--should I be concerned about lead paint fumes?  I saw online an article put out by the Mayo Clinic that states that if using a heat gun, just be sure to use the lowest setting, but then there's an EPA article that says don't use a heat gun at all.

Anybody know what the best thing to do is?

Dan

[Jeff]

According to this YES!

http://www.epa.gov/lead/leadinfo.htm

[Paschale]

Man...that means scraping the ole fashioned way.   :   But at least I'll be able to see!

I really want to get down to bare wood though.  I hate the look of painted over old paint, where you see the different layers of paint that didn't get totally scraped away.  And of course, they say that you shouldn't sand lead paint either. 

What about using a paint stripper?   :P

I should do some more reading on that EPA website.  The thing that made me wonder is an article on CNN.com that was from the Mayo Clinic that said that you could use a heat gun, just so long as you didn't use the higher settings. 

I read that here:  http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/library/FL/00068.html

But then the U.S. Consumers Protection Agency says this: 

Have professionals trained in removing lead-based paint do this work. Each of the paint-removal methods (sandpaper, scrapers, chemicals, sandblasters, and torches or heat guns) can produce lead fumes or dust. Fumes or dust can become airborne and be inhaled or ingested. Wet methods help reduce the amount of lead dust. Removing moldings, trim, window sills, and other painted surfaces for professional paint stripping outside the home may also create dust. Be sure the professionals contain the lead dust. Wet-wipe all surfaces to remove any dust or paint chips. Wet-clean the area before re-entry.
You can remove a small amount of lead-based paint if you can avoid creating any dust. Make sure the surface is less than about one square foot (such as a window sill). Any job larger than about one square foot should be done by professionals. Make sure you can use a wet method (such as a liquid paint stripper).

There's no way I'm going to hire a professional to do this job.  They'll charge me a crazy removal charge and all that stuff, since it's toxic stuff.  I bet they just wear high quality respirators when they do this work, with respirators graded for toxic fumes. 

My brother is trained in OSHA laws and stuff--he's an insurance loss control officer.  I should ask him about this.  He worked for an asbestos abatement company for awhile, so he's most likely familiar with this sorta stuff.  I don't know why I didn't think of asking him first. 

[beenthere]

Use the heat gun and don't breathe the fumes. Get a fan to the side and blow the fumes away.   Might work. 

I watched and listened regards a local restoration of an historical site, and the clamor that arose about the 'expense' and danger of the lead paint that was going to have to be removed.  After much debate and extra expense, finally a 'professional' firm was hired. Thereafter, on the front page of the paper was a picture of a guy standing on a scaffold with not even glasses over his eyes, chipping off the paint. No mask, no shirt, ...just chipping away. Hmmm? 

I think, be careful and treat it like any other chemical you might work with.

I can still recall the taste of the lead paint on window sills I use to chew on as a boy. For some reason.......maybe it explains a lot of things however.  :D :D : :

[DanG]

Beenthere's got it right.  The term "professional", in the trades, only means that they are getting paid.  It has nothing at all to do with competance. 

Just go ahead and do it yourself, using whatever precautions make you comfortable.  It will very likely be better for you, the community, and the environment.  And it will be a DanG sight better for your wallet. ;)

[Patty]

Dan, Menards sell a good respirator mask for just a few bucks. Norm wore one when he was stripping the finish off our house earlier this year. The heat gun may not be such a great idea, but would sanding it be so bad if you wore a good mask?  I am curious what your brother says about this.

[Roxie]

"Lead paint can cause reproductive problems in men and women" 

That was enough for me to read....I wouldn't try that unless you had the recommended NIOSH-Certified Respirator equipped with Hepa filters, protective clothes, and were using the wet-sanding equipment.  I get nervous around poison. 

[Patty]

I don't know about you Roxie, but I am all done having babies.  ;D  Dan may want to reconsider his project tho.

[DanG]

Reproductive problems is wwaaaayyyyyyy down my worry list, too. :D :D  I'm not sure the "problems" they're talking about is the same as the ones that have always plagued me. : :D :D

[Paschale]

Hmm...now y'all are making me think.  Best to keep the plumbing in tip top condition, I suppose.   ;D

[rebocardo]

If you are working outside, no worries, unless you stick your face right into the work. What has worked well for me is chemical stripper. Slather it on and scrap the gooey mess off with a plastic scraper. Then once the paint is removed, put on a dust respirator with filters rated for lead and sand away. The main thing is to wash yourself, your clothes, and your hands before you eat and drink.

That being said, it is probably much more precautions then any WWII vet ever took working on the family farm or house.

[Paschale]

That being said, it is probably much more precautions then any WWII vet ever took working on the family farm or house.

That's a very good point.   :P  In my family, none of my dad's generation, or grandparent's generation went blind, and I'm here--proof that they could reproduce just fine.   ;) 

[pigman]

That's a very good point.   :P  In my family, none of my dad's generation, or grandparent's generation went blind, and I'm here--proof that they could reproduce just fine. ;) 

Yes, but according to your avatar you have horns. ;) :D

[Paschale]

Yeah, and you can't see it in this picture...but I have a tail--maybe I SHOULD be concerned after all!   ;D