If you even suspect that your paint is lead-based, use all precautions.
Fabulous pieces of furniture are often hidden under layers of ugly paint. However, nearly any item painted before the 1970s is likely to be covered in lead paint. Lead-painted furniture can be stripped, but the dangers in doing so yourself are serious. Many lead paint strippers are so toxic and flammable that they are more dangerous than the paint, itself. It is possible to strip lead paint safely, but do not skimp on the protective gear or shortcut the process.
Instructions
1. Ventilate your work area. Open all windows and doors. The fumes released when lead paint is dissolving are toxic.
2. Cover your work area with drop cloths or plastic tarps. This is extremely important to catch all of the lead paint chips that will come off during the stripping process. Wear protective gear, including old clothes or disposable coveralls.
3. Pour a few inches of safe lead-paint stripper into a disposable bowl. Safe strippers can be soy-based, or chemical-based. Select any kind of stripper that is labeled "safe." The faster the stripper works, the more caustic it will be.
4. Dip your paint brush into the paint stripper and paint a thick layer onto the painted furniture. Do a fairly small area at a time. Let the stripper work according to the manufacturer's recommendations. Cover the area with plastic if you are using soy-based paint-stripper to help speed the process.
5. Scrape away the lead paint with a rubber scraper. Wipe the paint residue off of the scraper with disposable shop cloths.
6. Get into corners and any ornamental scroll work with a toothbrush. Pull a piece of heavy twine back and forth in the grooves of turned legs, the way you use a towel to dry your back.
7. Pour about 1/4 cup of mineral spirits on a clean shop cloth and go over the furniture lightly to remove any residue from the paint stripper.
8. Sand the furniture lightly with sandpaper that is 120-grit or finer. Do not sand until every scrap of lead paint is gone, because the dust from lead paint is toxic.
9. Let the lead paint residue dry thoroughly before wadding up the drop cloths and putting them in plastic trash bags. Contact your local Environmental Compliance Assistance office to find out safely dispose of the lead paint residue.
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