How do you get dried paint off of woodwork?

Answer 1

Use a heat-gun and a scraper. You can soften most paints with heat.

Do it outside and try not to inhale the fumes.

Or obtain a paint stripper from your hardware store and follow the directions given.

After you have found out how horrible it is to remove paint you will start to think differently about the benefits of painting wood.

You can also find some techniques here >>planswoodworking.info/

Answer 2

Latex, Acrylic, Emulsion (water based paint) is best cleaned when the paint is wet. A cloth dampened with water will wipe the paint off.

If it has dried things get tougher.

For drips & splatter on stained and sealed wood trim - use a flat PLASTIC paint scrapper (or an old credit card will work) to gently pop the paint off the surface.

For extensive over painting on stained & sealed wooden trim - you may need to refinish the wooden trim - the best way is to remove the trim, be gentle, pull the nails, pry it carefully away from the wall. Once the trim is off, sand down the paint, if necessary re-stain and apply a new top coat of sealer. Re-install the trim, touch up the nail holes and joins.

For drips spatters or extensive over painting on painted wooden trim - sand the drips etc. smooth and re-apply fresh paint (to match) on the trim.

Oil based paint is again best cleaned when wet. A cloth lightly dampened with water will wipe away minor mistakes, you can use paint thinner, but it may damage the top coat of the trim, requiring a fresh top coat of sealer when you are done.

For drips & spatters on stained and sealed wood trim - use a flat thin metal paint scrapper (keep it at an angle that is very nearly parallel with the surface of the trim) to gently pop the spatters off. If this does not work a careful sanding may work, but be prepared to touch up the trim finish.

For extensive over painting on stained and sealed wood trim - you will need to refinish the wood trim. Your best bet is to remove the trim from the wall. Be gentle and extremely careful (see details above). Once it is off the wall, sand the trim down, if necessary re-stain and apply a new seal coat. Re-install the trim, touch up the nail holes and joins and you are finished.

For dips, spatters or extensive over painting on painted wooden trim, sand the spots etc smooth and refresh the paint (to match) on the trim. This process is best done with the trim off of the wall.

In future, to avoid this happening, learn how to apply a good quality painters' tape, or the correct use of a paint shield before tackling your next job.

Answer 3

Use a paint remover specially designed for that purpose. Its a messy process, but will work to get most of the paint off. Sanding may be required to get the rest off.

Answer 4

Paint Thinner.