I started using a cheap heat gun from Harbor Freight on old varnish and it worked way better than I thought.

I had this 1950s dresser with layers of thick, gummy varnish that chemical stripper just smeared around. I grabbed a $25 heat gun I bought for another job, kept it moving on low heat, and the varnish peeled right up in clean strips without scorching the wood. Has anyone else had good luck with the cheaper tools for this kind of job, or did I just get lucky?

4 comments

4 Comments

mary_martin221mo ago

I used to be such a snob about needing the expensive brand name tools for anything. But reading about your Harbor Freight heat gun working on that gummy varnish totally changed my mind. I mean, I had a similar job on an old table and my fancy chemical stripper just made a huge mess. Maybe it's just me but I'm definitely grabbing a cheap heat gun next time.

hugomurray1mo ago

My buddy tried a cheap orbital sander on his deck. It died after one summer but it got the job done.

richard_anderson1mo ago

But that dead sander just became more landfill junk...

mary_foster921mo ago

Yeah but @richard_anderson, did it at least get the deck done before it broke? That's the real test for me.