My buddy in Seattle swore by using a heat gun to strip old shellac, but I was always worried about scorching the wood.

I finally gave it a shot on a 1920s vanity I'm working on, and it came off like a dream without any damage. Who knew a $40 tool could save me hours of scraping and chemical mess? Anyone have a different go-to method for stubborn old finishes?

4 comments

4 Comments

adams.uma2mo ago

What specific heat gun settings did you find worked best to avoid scorching?

diana_carr662mo ago

I kept my heat gun on the low setting, around 500 degrees, and kept it moving constantly. The trick is to watch for the shellac to just start to bubble and get shiny, then scrape right away. I used a wide putty knife with the corners rounded off so it wouldn't dig in. It takes a bit of practice to get the rhythm, but once you do it's way faster than chemicals.

lewis.mila2mo ago

Sounds like a good way to burn your house down.

claire_grant341mo agoMost Upvoted

Oh yeah, that's the big worry for sure (and honestly a valid one). But I think if you're careful with the temp and keep it moving, it's pretty safe. I've done it on a few old pieces and never had any issues as long as I didn't get distracted. The key is don't leave the gun in one spot, like ever. And maybe keep a spray bottle of water handy just in case, you know?