A trick for old window putty that saved me hours on a 1920s house job

Last week I was stripping paint from original sashes in a house in Tacoma and the putty was rock hard. Instead of chiseling it all out, I warmed a putty knife over a small propane torch for a few seconds, just enough to take the chill off. It slid right under the old stuff and popped it out in one piece. Anyone got a better method for those really stubborn jobs?

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3 Comments

james6726mo ago

Ever try a heat gun on low? It gives you more control than a torch for those really brittle spots.

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craig.reese6mo ago

More control" is right, I used to think torches were the only way.

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linda_butler286mo ago

Heat guns can be way too slow for some jobs though. Trying to peel old vinyl siding with one is a nightmare. The torch gets it hot and moving in seconds. For big areas, that extra speed is everything.

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