reply to varnish removal tip

Posted by Awakening Chi (Awakening.Chi@…>)

Heat gun temperatures could easily char wood, so I was careful not to
focus the heat on any one place for more than 5 seconds. I worked on a
space about 3 inches long and kept the nozzle moving back and forth.
It only took 20 -30 seconds for the varnish to soften. Sometimes it
came off in layers while other areas were de-varnished with one swipe
of the paint scraper. I think it depended on how many coats had built
up and how exposed to was to the elements…hidden parts took longer.
If you use the heat gun on HIGH, then definitely keep it moving. Mine
gun has either a high or low setting. I used High as I am too
impatient to wait for Low to do the trick. After the varnish was
removed, I used 100 grit sand paper to smooth the wood and pick up any
“hanging chads” of varnish. Now on to the next phase…cleaning and
rehydrating. Just waiting for the rain to stop!

Heather
L’Audace in San Diego