Removing Paint From Cedar Siding | Diamabrush vs Paint Eater vs Sander vs Pressure Washer vs Scraper
Video Overview & Insights
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I'm trying to get flaking paint off planed tongued, grooved & veed boards installed vertically on shed doors. A heat gun and hand scraper were removing the plastic-based paint, but the older paint beneath it stayed in place except where it had flaked off. I'm going to try to feather the edges and remove the flaking paint with a steel wire cup brush on an angle grinder - as you say, a corded one not a battery one. I hate painting, but I hate the preparation more!
In this video I am testing tools and methods for removing paint from cedar siding including a regular old scraper, a sander, a paint eater sponge, a Diamabrush, an oscillating multi-tool, and a pressure washer.
In the end, the Diamabrush was the fastest tool for the job - I go over how to use the Diamabrush in the video. I also used the paint eater sponge for between laps to finish it off!
Time to hit that hair color.
Affiliate links to the products shown:
Diamabrush: https://amzn.to/3cvu1XR
You can probably rent sand-blasters - saves buying and much cheaper
Paint Eater Sponge: https://amzn.to/3Aws1GQ
Pressure Washer: https://amzn.to/3CIXRTz
Buy multiple scrapers from John Storz and Son, sharpen in batches often (like after every 10 to 20 minutes of scraping) with a flat file. The handles are permanently affixed on these but it's worth it. Put the scraper in a vice and file into the blade edge until it's razor sharp. They do eventually wear out and stop working well even after continued sharpening. Find a small space heater with a ceramic element and modify it to be able to hold it close to the paint (search videos for this) for about 30 seconds at a time. These get to about 500 degrees and are much less likely to ignite dry wood shavings. A heat gun blows much hotter air 1000 degrees plus) into every tiny crevice. Small shavings behind the wood can smolder for days. Old time painters have reported coming back to a job the next day and finding only a smoking crater. A heat gun can be used VERY CAREFULLY for tight or stubborn spots, but keep feeling around with your hand afterward for several minutes to make sure everything cools and STAYS cool! If heat doesn't completely cool or especially if it comes back and gets hotter, get a hose!
Multi-Tool: https://amzn.to/3CEbnI3
Dust Shroud: https://amzn.to/3PYVMWp
60-grit abrasive flap discs for angle grinders work on both metal and wood; however, if used on metal first, they don't perform well on wood afterward—but if you use them on wood from the start, they are excellent and very cheap.
Angle Grinder: https://homedepot.sjv.io/WDoqyO
Wow that's a project to keep you out of trouble.
More User Perspectives
video makes no sense as if you have three old layers of paint underneath then how did those layers peel off
@DrainmanSandblaster
@Steve-p3x6qSandblaster
@paulmattson5604Hope you tested for lead?
@Alan-n3c1bFirst identify why the paint is lifting. If it's moisture, where is moisture coming fro..
@keithfullmer1058Therapy advert...why?
@dannycolverson6944I think it's helpful, but first you have to cover the floor to get rid of the paint falling off. This old colors are not really healthy...
@LokiLok-ht7uiThe pressure washer you used looks like an entry level unit. You probably would be best using a Honda 4stroke engine mated to a quality pump which be a minimum 2500 psi. And one other minor point the 's' in debris is silent. 🇨🇦
@johncorbett560That’s not 4 different layers of paint you’re seeing lmao. That’s your sander rubbing on the yellow paint and cedar and creating what ever other colors your seeing lol
@landonmillett4717Would a Diamabrush work to remove solid stain from cedar side shingles?
@swami1wow
@goku-gn4wqRule number 1: DONT PAINT IN THE RAIN.
@vincentmanion7990Wakko
@randyprice5156Just use Sponge Jet or similar blasting. It's a very specialized media for many types of substrates- especially for historic restoration of wood materials too. Gets all the nooks and crannies. Then do a smoothing sand and stain/paint as desired. Usually, you would stain this, and not a repaint.
@bigbob3772Nice. Why paint cedar???
@solarsynapseive been using a heat gun and a scrapper for years! works great without damage to the wood! good work!
@BkrsBoxerrI have found the fastest and safest way to strip multiple layers of paint off flat surfaces is using a handheld power planer with vac attachment. Depending on the depth setting, you can remove one, two, three, or more layers of paint at one time, down to bare wood. With a vac attached, 99 percent of paint shavings and dust are sucked into the vac, and complete boards can be stripped within seconds and leave a baby smooth finish.
If you're a novice to this technique, BE CONSERVATIVE. Remover any nails or screws that are buried under the paint in the wood or you will damage the planer knives. Don't try to take all layers of paint off on the first pass. Go slow. If you set your planer knives too deep, you can destroy wood in a hurry. Also, DO THIS: I have discovered that using vac filter bags in my shop vac captures more dust and keeps the actual shop vac filter virtually clean. If removing lead paint, USE A HEPA RATED FILTER and wear a NIOSH mask rated N95 or N100, and preferably work outside. Do NOT waste your time with flimsy cheap masks as they are NOT effective in the least. Both the filter bags and HEPA filter itself cost more but are well worth it in terms of health protection and saving shop vac filters, and the constant need to shake out the clogs. (btw, if you are sanding a lot of drywall with a power drywall sander or the handheld sanders that employ a vac, the filter bags absolutely pay off. You can sand for days without having to unclog your shop vac filter, and when the bag is full, can be removed almost dust free).
I don't know if any brand makes a cordless hand planer but the only tool that makes sense is a corded planer. I know that Bosch and Dewalt make handheld electric planers and I have used both. You may have to scout around for a special vac port attachment for the Dewalt unless they have changed to a round port.
Note on the siding shown in this example, the cedar ridges - growth rings - will be eliminated which will improve the shedding of dirt and precipitation, and make your new paint job last longer. To me, cedar clapboards make no sense anyway as cedar is a very soft wood that readily shows dents and dings.
Cheers.
What a cute little video. Bet that battery powered cut off tool lasted a whole of about 10 minutes. Doing a whole house like that is crazy work!
@Daniel-vh9lgThe simple solution would've been to apply paint stripper gel and use a wide paint scraper. Since the layers of paint are not adhering well to the wood, the paint stripper gel would cause the paint to bubble up making it extremely easy to remove with a simple paint scraper
@steph0412anie3rd generation painter been doing it since I could hold a brush . High quality solid color stain is the best product for cedar siding. Usually get about 7-10 years life depending on local climate but it doesn't peel slowly fades with time though
@pokepainter78Danger: old paint contains toxic lead.
@Innov8-NowHeat guns and leaded paint bad idea.
@pjw1016No easy way.
@tonyromano6220Used a Diamabrush to strip a 11x19 deck. Ya, it took a while, but the Diamabrush remained consistent throughout several nail head strikes. GREAT product!
@millibarmanThank you thank you thank you for the diamond brush tip! Worked great!
@mikemarshall5226just get a makita Makita GV7000C 7 disc sander to ez.
@windows10pro81You should try wet sandblasting with your pressure washer.
@edwardkiepper1563Cedar is oily and will always be. Paint doesn't stick well and wont. You oil cedar to freshen it up. Until the oil is worn out through aging you will have no luck. Previous owners made the mistake
@hovered4Love this!! Thank you.
@KDUB-vf4eswish i had indoor smaller version
@SonOfAnders73I've done significant paint removal inside an old house and the effort-per-square-foot reminds me of your work. I don't envy anyone that needs to do this. #godspeed
@billrose5146@1:40 I believe that first coat of paint you see as actually primer.
I also heard not to use that 0 degree red pressure washer tip on wood. You will tear up wood fiber and inject water into the wood.
You should have used the Metabo LF 850F
@OunstedHochfelderYou need to wear breathing filters to protect your lungs from any possible lead paint. This is mandatory unless you have had your paint tested for lead. This is a very serious issue, so don't ignore it.
@franklong6269Speaking from experience, don't remove the paint. Pull the siding off, run the bottom edge along a table saw and sand the back. Then flip the boards around. My dad and i did the whole house this way and spent a total of $300 for a few replacement siding boards, house wrap and stain.
@rschiwalThe only bad part i that cider wood will never hold paint never
@lennonjames3871Glad you didn’t try sandblasting. Definitely not for use on wood of any kind. Heat gun is probably the slowest but the absolute best at keeping the natural wood grain. You obviously didn’t care about that and that’s fine. Good job
@garysullivan8203Please people think safety first. Paints before 1980 had lead in them, if not done properly you and your family can suffer from complications from lead paint medical issues.. please do your research before starting any paint removal .
@deankenyon2246How would a heat gun and a metal scraper do?
@KeithKenworthy-ut2zySupposed to take the guard off of the angle grinder when using the sponge looking sanding wheel. They work well without the guard. Also compressed air clears them out
@MichaelKnight-s2ysand blast
@gannong1Heat gun will peel the paint off better without ruining the wood.
@mikewilliams6086Should be wearing a dust mask always. Some timbers are no good for your lungs as well as tge paints.
@mikewilliams6086A paint scraper is a tungsten carbide blade not a wire brush with a little metal blade. Prepping paint especially the outside of a house is a huge job to do it properly.
@mikewilliams6086