kittern
regular
Reged: 21/03/2007
Posts: 339
Loc: Solent
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Has anyone used a heat gun and best quality scrapers to strip varnish? ... if so were there any drawbacks?
I've got a whole cockpit, including back end of the coach roof and companion way doors, also ribbed seats/locker covers ... all with who knows how many coats of varnish on them ... Nitromors and the like are so messy to use that I'd rather not and also I really want to do the job afloat if I can, using a gas (bottle) powered heat gun. I've found some clever ever so slightly curved scrapers which look as though they'll do the job without leaving score marks all over the place. Easiest way is to pay the yard and say get on with it but the price would be hellish!
What do you reckon ... any one tried heat guns?
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lw395
regular
Reged: 16/05/2007
Posts: 629
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I use heat guns a lot, mostly the mains powered sort, have done various boats, lots of parquet floor at home etc etc.
Get a Harris Tungsten carbide scraper. This will deal with a lot of varnish cold. Also the black ANZA scrapers are quite good, can be sharpened with a file.
A dremel can be good for the awkward corners.
Not leaving score or scorch marks is mostly about taking care, but using sharp tools helps, as more force=less control.
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PCUK
regular
Reged: 29/06/2005
Posts: 1867
Loc: Devon
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Skarsten scrapers are some of the best. Basically a cabinet scraper on a stick!!! Can also be sharpened in the same way as a cabinet scraper.
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nct1
regular
Reged: 21/02/2004
Posts: 385
Loc: UK
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If you overdo it with a heat gun the wood will burn which leaves aesthetic problems.
Random orbital sander works well for me.
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Tranona
regular
Reged: 10/11/2007
Posts: 1084
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Depends to an extent on the varnish. Hot air gun is OK, but in the open can be difficult to keep an even heat, and can lead to local burning of the underlying wood. On balance, having tried just about every method, prefer Nitromors. Let it go almost hard and then scrape off. Better for anything that is not flat, ie grooves and around trim as it penetrates. Variety of scrapers useful, some home made to do things like grooves. Skarstens are OK but my current favourite is a Sandvik with a replaceable 50mm double edged blade. Recognise them by their substantial orange handle.
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anteak
regular
Reged: 28/01/2004
Posts: 1062
Loc: lowestoft
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We use hot air guns all the time. You just have to be careful. Nitromors, or any other chemical, is never used.
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A man may fight for many things. His country, his friends, his principles, the glistening tear on the cheek of a golden child. But personally, I'd mud wrestle my own mother for a ton of cash, an amusing clock and a sack of French porn. EB
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LittleShip
regular
Reged: 21/07/2003
Posts: 2576
Loc: In the water .... most of the ...
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I have loads of brightwork on my boat................ trust me heat, stripper ect don't come near this
The Best by Far !!
Round the edges so that it wont mark the wood apply pressure and pull, it will even connect to a vacuum so there is no mess.
You could on the other hand struggle!
Tom
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I wish I'd been born rich instead of good looking ?
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kittern
regular
Reged: 21/03/2007
Posts: 339
Loc: Solent
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Great idea! .... I might struggle to plug in the vacuum cleaner with the boat swinging round a mooring in the middle of Portsmouth harbour though. ... 
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Georgio
regular
Reged: 23/01/2003
Posts: 340
Loc: Solent/south coast
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Cheap B&Q generator and a vacuum cleaner from Ebay (I have an old one in the garage for just such jobs)
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Twister_Ken
regular
Reged: 31/05/2001
Posts: 14275
Loc: k, stock & barrel.
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"heap B&Q generator and a vacuum cleaner from Ebay (I have an old one in the garage for just such jobs) "
God, the noise!
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If, at first, you don't succeed...
...don't try sky diving.
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