Stripping paint with a heat gun vs chemical stripper on an old dresser - which is less of a headache?

Spent last weekend trying to strip a 1960s dresser I found on the curb, and I could not decide between the heat gun method or the chemical stuff. I went with the heat gun first but ended up scorching a corner after 20 minutes, so I switched to the chemical stripper which took way longer but didn't burn anything. Has anyone else faced this choice and come out with a clear winner for old furniture?

2 comments

2 Comments

grantl9420d ago

Heat gun is better for flat open areas but you gotta keep it moving constantly, like you're painting with fire. Chemical stripper is slower but way safer for detailed stuff like turned legs or carved sections. On that old dresser I'd do a mix - heat gun on the big panels, chemical on the trim and corners. Just test a spot first with the heat gun on low so you don't burn through the veneer if it's got any.

luna51920d ago

Honestly, 'paint with fire' sounds a little dramatic, it's just stripping furniture not defusing a bomb. @grantl94 I get the caution with veneer, but are we really overthinking a Facebook Marketplace dresser? I've used a heat gun on worse stuff without testing and never burned through anything. Half the time the veneer is already peeling anyway on those old pieces.