Home Improvement Painting

How to Scrape Paint With 3 Common Tools

electric sander removing paint

sanjeri / Getty Images 

Scraping paint is inescapable with many painting projects, especially exterior jobs like painting a house, a fence, or an outbuilding. If the existing paint is cracked, peeling, blistered, or otherwise loose, painting over it might last for a short time. But eventually, you'll have problems again. The solution is to scrape the paint.

Scraping paint is done with a combination of tools: a wire brush, a flat metal paint scraper, and a heat gun. Using all three tools makes paint scraping less tedious and time-consuming, and it produces longer-lasting, professional results.

Warning

Paint sold before 1978 may contain lead. If paint containing lead is loosened during the removal process, the chips and dust can pose a health risk if inhaled or ingested. If you suspect you might be working with old paint, test an area for the presence of lead. Most hardware stores and home centers sell test kits. If lead is present, follow EPA recommendations for its removal.

Scraping Paint With a Wire Brush

Pros
  • Inexpensive

  • Easy to use

  • No set-up time

Cons
  • Cannot get under paint

  • Metal tines will rust

  • Causes debris to fly

Use a wire metal brush to remove raised, peeling, or blistered paint. Wire brushes are inexpensive and quick to put into action, as opposed to a power sander that requires set-up time. In addition, wire brushes are valuable for cleaning paint scrapers and other tools, such as putty knives and wallboard knives. 

Though easy to use and cheap, wire brushes have their limitations. Brushes will remove only the loosest, raised, peeling, and blistered paint. If the paint is even moderately attached to the surface, the brush will not remove it. Not only that but brushing can embed semi-attached paint further into the wood.

Brush with metal bristles in hand to remove old paint from the window.
Iuliia Alekseeva / Getty Images
  1. Protect the Work Area

    Vigorous brushing is messy, so lay plastic sheeting or a dropcloth to contain and remove paint flakes.

  2. Brush Overall Loose Paint

    Run the wire brush lightly across the entire area to dislodge paint that is very loose. Do not target any areas yet and avoid pressing too hard on the brush.

  3. Brush Problem Areas

    On areas of prominently peeling paint, lightly sweep your wire brush parallel to the edge of the peeling paint to lift it. Where the paint more closely hugs the surface, sweep in the direction of the paint strokes if they are visible.

  4. Clean the Wire Brush

    When finished, clean the wire brush under running water. Shake out the brush and thoroughly dry it with a heat gun or on a towel. Wire brushes eventually will rust if not properly dried.

Scraping Paint With a Paint Scraper

Pros
  • Effective on large loose areas

  • Inexpensive

  • Simple to use

Cons
  • Can gouge surface

  • Requires much effort

  • Slow

Scraping paint with a manual paint scraper is the classic, reliable way of removing paint. While it does take some effort to remove paint with a manual scraper, you can be confident that the results are complete. Unlike a wire brush, a paint scraper gets under the paint to help lift it and pull it away.

  • 3-inch flat heavy-duty scraper: Flat and shaped like a large putty knife, the 3-inch scraper's wide scraping head takes off large sections of peeling paint.
  • 2.5-inch two-edge paint scraper: Shaped like a large facial razor, this tool has a thin handle and a wide head. The head sometimes has replaceable scraper blades, allowing you to shift to a new blade whenever the old one gets dull. This tool is designed to be pulled toward you rather than pushed forward.
  • Multi-use painter's tool: Known as a 5-in-1 tool, 8-in-1 tool, or 14-in-1 tool, and several other permutations, this tool has great utility not just for scraping paint but for many forms of home improvement work. You can use this tool for spreading wood filler, chiseling, opening paint cans, cleaning rollers, and more.
  • Putty knife: While a putty knife is designed for using wood filler or joint compound, its blunt end makes it ideal for scraping paint while reducing the chance of gouging the surface. One of the best things about using a putty knife to scrape paint is that it bends to allow you to get under the paint.
Scraping paint off a wall
Art-Benco / Getty Images
  1. Run a Paint Scraper Over a Whetstone

    It helps to have both a sharp scraper and a blunt scraper when removing paint. Run your sharp tool over a whetstone to hone the blade. The blade does not need to be razor-sharp. It only needs to be shaper than the blunt scraper.

  2. Scrape Loose Paint With the Blunt Tool

    Begin with the blunt tool. Put the scraper end under any loose paint flakes. If using a putty knife, bend it and gently push. Continue pushing until the paint no longer comes up easily.

  3. Switch to the Sharp Tool

    If the paint still has a raised edge, switch to the sharp tool. Place the scraper end under the raised edge, and gently press forward until the scraper doesn't easily lift the paint. Take care not to gouge the surface when working with a sharp scraper. 

  4. Clean the Scrapers

    Wipe off the scrapers with a clean, dry cloth. If needed, wash the scrapers under running water. Be sure to dry them to prevent rust.

Scraping Paint With a Heat Gun

Pros
  • Effective on firmly attached paint

  • Good on all types of paint

  • Several scraper attachments available

Cons
  • Fire danger

  • Slow

  • Requires electrical outlet

An electric heat gun rated for 1,000 watts or more is a valuable tool for removing paint because heat softens paint for easier removal.

While heat guns are slow, they are effective. Some heat guns come with scraper attachments, which can make the paint-removal process even easier. The combined heat gun/scraper can be difficult to control, though. So, it's usually more effective to work with a heat gun and a separate manual scraper.

person removing old paint from a window with a heat gun and scraper
KalachevsStockStudio / Getty Images
  1. Gather Your Scraper and Heat Gun

    If you have a scraper head attachment for your heat gun, fit it onto the end of the gun while the tool is unplugged. If not, simply hold your heat gun in one hand and a blunt scraper in the other hand.

  2. Heat up the Heat Gun

    Plug in the heat gun. Select a low or medium setting to begin with. Turn on the heat gun and let it run for about a minute to heat up.

    Tip

    Overheating the paint can make it gummy and harder to remove. Practice will help you determine the right amount of heating for easy removal.

  3. Heat the Paint

    Begin with the heat gun turned to its low setting. If you have the scraper attachment, hold the tip of the tool close to the painted surface. If not, hold the heat gun a few inches away from the surface. Slightly waving the gun over the surface, let the paint heat up for roughly 20 seconds.

  4. Press the Scraper Forward

    Aim the heat gun away from your work, or briefly turn off the power, to avoid burning your fingers as you gently press the scraper attachment or manual scraper forward several inches to peel away the heated paint. If the paint has been adequately warmed, it will be slightly soft and easily peel away from the surface.

When to Call a Professional

Scraping paint across limited areas can be a manageable task. But for scraping paint on large areas, like an entire house, call a professional painting company. For lead paint, call an abatement company for safe removal.

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  1. Protect Your Family From Sources of Lead. United States Environmental Protection Agency.