LD Weekend ~ part 3

Using the heat gun lasted approximately 30 minutes. I honestly do not know why it is so hard to use the heat gun on the beams. The paint just does not want to budge. I have to hold the heat gun in one place about 30 seconds and then can only scrape about 1/2 inch at a time.... I risk burning the wood this way, so resorted to Citri-Strip. I love this stuff for walls, furniture, etc, but not so much in high places. 

It took about 3 hours to get this much done:

Using a liquid stripper is a nasty job and the clean-up takes way longer. Old varnish is gooey and gross and drips down onto everything. 

With a heat gun, all you need is a broom and dust pan when it comes to cleaning up. 

With liquid stripper, you have to scrape, wipe, lather on more stripper, scrape, wipe, clean with a gazillion rags, wipe down with afterwash. 

Even though the clean up is more time consuming, the wood is much prettier afterwards. And the citrusy smell is so pleasing to the nostrils compared to burning paint/varnish.  

I was a little disappointed in myself for not getting more done today. After a shower and hour nap, I decided to take advantage of the no-tax day at Orchard Supply. I went and purchased more Citri-Strip and the Citri-Strip Afterwash, because I'll need at least two more ($20) bottles for the beam. 

Then I came home and sort of went into a semi coma watching King of Queens. We have the entire set on DVD, which means trouble. Laying on the couch vegging all day sounds way more fun than manual labor. 

After about 4 episodes, the guilt set in. I decided to tackle a job that I have put off for YEARS. I started stripping the bathroom door in March 2012 and never finished. 

The door has looked like this for 2 1/2 years. I have no shame. 

An hour later:

The paint on the bottom is giving me the same problem as the beams, it does not want to budge and has a tendency to set off smoke alarms. 

Citri-Strip is lathered on... will update with photos tomorrow. 

Have you ever tried to do home projects with a little kitten in the house? She looks so cute and innocent under the step stool... but she is so curious and is under foot constantly. She probably thinks I'm a meanie right now because I've been shooing her away all day. 

Lily is just the opposite. She does not bother me at all because she's busy holding down all the carpets in the house.