Old paint doesnt always need to be stripped before painting a new coat, it can sometimes actually serve as a good undercoat. To test if the old pain needs to be stripped, stick a good piece of masking tape on the area and pull it off again. If the paint peels off with the tape, it needs to be removed.
There are different methods of stripping paint: scraping, heat stripping and chemical strippers.
Scraping is a cheap way to strip old paint, but it takes lots of time and may leave score marks.
Chemical strippers are useful for more difficult or uneven surfaces and are often quite easy to use, just make sure you follow the manufacturers instructions. Liquid is applied to the old paint using a brush. After a few minutes remove the softened paint with a scraper. Remove the excess paint with wire wool.
A blowtorch can be used to melt the old paint. BUT it cannot be used on lead based paints as that will release toxic fumes. Be careful with a blow torch, it can easily scorch the surface. Hold it at least 15-20cm away from the surface starting from the top. Use a sharp scraper to peel the melted paint into a tin tray.
You could use a hot air gun. This releases a heat stream that melts the all paint in its path. Nozzles for corners or awkward areas are available. Direct the nozzles to the areas you want to strip. Peel the paint with a scraper.
Although the blowtorch and hot air gun are very effective methods they are very noisy and can be heavy.
Peel strippers are very time consuming. This is a thick paste that needs to be applied with a filling knife. It can take several hours for it to eat through the layers of paint you want to remove. After a few hours, peel the layer off.
Thanks, this info has helped me.
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