Old paint does not always need to be stripped before painting a new coat on top. It can sometimes actually serve as a good undercoat. To test if the old pain needs to be stripped, stick a piece of masking tape on the area, if the paint peels off, it needs to be stripped.
There are different types of strippers available: scraping, heat stripping and chemical strippers.
Scraping is a cheap way to strip old paint, but it takes lots of time and may leave score marks.
Chemical strippers are useful for more difficult or uneven surfaces. It is quite easy to use; just make sure you follow the user’s manual correctly. The liquid are applied to the old paint by an old brush. After a few minutes remove the softened paint with a scraper. Remove the excess paint with wire wool or white spirits.
A blowtorch are used to melt the old paints, however it can not be used on lead based paints as it can release toxic fumes. Be careful with a blow torch, it can easily scorch the surface. Hold it at least 15-20cm away from the surface starting from the top. Use a sharp scraper to peel the melting paint into a tin tray.
A hot air gun releases a heat stream that melts the all paint in its path. Nozzles for corners or awkward areas are available. Direct the nozzle to the area you want to strip. Peel the paint with a scraper. Although a blowtorch is a very effective method it can make a loud noise and be heavy to use.
Peel strippers are very time consuming. It is a thick paste that needs to be applied with a filling knife. It can take several hours for it to eat through the layers of paint you want to remove. After a few hours, peel the layer off.