Infrared paint removers have become more popular in the paint removal market as a faster and safer way of stripping multiple layers of paint. According to experts, infrared heat pierces deeper into the layers of paint, due to which paint layers are warmed up and removed easily.
Instead of heating from town down like heat guns, the IR paint stripper heats from the bottom up at a lower temperature. This leads to faster paint removal and lower temperatures, making users safe.
IR Technology
There are two major forms of infrared technology that work almost similarly. These include infrared glass bulbs and ceramic plates.
A ceramic plate must be put near the surface being worked on so as to work effectively when compared to an infrared glass bulb that works best at 3” – 5” on top of the surface.
Ceramic plate technology is also far less fragile than glass bulb technology, making it far better for tumble and rough sites.
Traits of IR Paint Strippers
Paint stripping through IR methods isn’t as easy as traditional techniques and must have special traits. Some of these traits include the following:
- The right distance between bulbs and wood to be maintained
- Infrared bulbs must be protected against breakage
- Infrared applications must conform to safety standards
- The operator must be trained well for infrared applications
Why Use Infrared Paint Remover
Heat guns often operate between 800 and 1100F degrees to heat paint layers to those levels. Lead paints give off invisible fumes when heated at around 900F degrees.
Once lead paints change to fumes, wear a special organic vapor face mask to protect yourself. Plus, blowing heat on a heated surface significantly increases the risks of undetected fire behind the surface of the wood being stripped.
Unlike heat guns, infrared paint strippers uniquely heat paints, and they don’t heat what is behind the surface of the wood. This, in turn, reduces the risks of causing fire.
Applications
Removing thick paint layers from wood surfaces is a great challenge for most homeowners. This is especially true for homes that were already painted before 1978.
Until that period, most homeowners were using lead-based homes. The federal laws enacted around the same time prohibited homeowners from using lead-based paints. This is because lead paint chips, dust, and fumes pose a serious health hazard if handled improperly.
Fortunately, a more eco-friendly and early was developed in the 1980s. This method is none other than IR paint remover. It uses infrared heat waves to enable users to do the following:
- Dispose of debris – Unlike fine particles that sanding creates, IR paint remover creates larger paint curls, making it easier for collection.
- Dry out moisture – Heat in IR paint remover open the wood grain more effectively than other stripping methods without damaging the surface of the wood.
Final Remarks
Removing thick paint layers is challenging for most homeowners, especially for people with old homes. You can use traditional paint removal techniques, including sanding and heat guns, but they are all labor-intensive and unsafe for users. Unlike traditional paint stripping methods, IR paint removers are convenient, effective, and safe for users.
