new to the group

[Kelly]

+1 on the heat gun. It works best with varnish but will also work with paint. I hate working with chemical strippers, but have on occasion.

With a heat gun, the trick is to get the right tempo. Heat a spot until the paint starts to bubble then peel the paint off with a spatula while slowly moving the heat gun forward. With a little practice, you'll be peeling paint down to the wood in long strips. My spatula is rounded on the corners to help with not gouging the wood.

Don't get the spatula too close to the heat or you'll drop it quicker than you would a frying coil!

[2dogsnight]

...I like the idea of using a heat gun, seems the be less messy way of taking paint off...will be looking for it in Home Depot and soon....right now need to level the area where I will park the trailer....maybe cement pad will be in order

[romantic comedy]

Forget the concrete, go boating!!!

[CalebD]

The only downside to using a heat gun is that as the dried paint heats up it will off gas some noxious fumes. The fumes can be blown away with your really hot hair dryer but they could be a bit txoic depending on the paint.

Geez, what have I been sniffing?

Still an effective way for removing paint, varnish or Cetol.

[2dogsnight]

I think working on outside, under tent like structure I should be fine....wander how heat gun will affect varnish that is under the paint