Paint Stripping
WARNING: Extreme care
should be taken when strip-
ping paint. The peelings,
residue and vapors of paint
may contain lead, which is
poisonous. Any pre-1977 paint
may contain lead and paint
applied to homes prior to 1950
is likely to contain lead. Once
deposited on surfaces, hand
to mouth contact can result in
the ingestion of lead. Exposure
to even low levels of lead can
cause irreversible brain and
nervous system damage;
young and unborn children
are particularly vulnerable.
Before beginning any paint
removal process you should
determine whether the paint
you are removing contains
lead. This can be done by
your local health department
or by a professional who used
a paint analyzer to check the
lead contact of the paint to be
removed. LEAD-BASED
PAINT SHOULD ONLY BE
REMOVED BY A PROFES-
SIONAL AND SHOULD NOT
BE REMOVED USING A
HOT AIR GUN.
Persons removing paint
should follow these guidelines:
1. Move the work piece out-
doors. If this is not possi-
ble, keep the work area
well ventilated. Open the
windows and put an
exhaust fan in one of
them. Be sure the fan is
moving the air from inside
to outside.
2. Remove or cover any car-
pets, rugs, furniture, cloth-
ing, cooking utensils and
air ducts.
3. Place drop cloths in the
work area to catch any
paint chips or peelings.
Wear protective clothing
such as extra work shirts,
overalls and hats.
4. Work in one room at a
time. Furnishings should
be removed or placed in
the center of the room and
covered. Work areas
shoud be sealed off from
the rest of the dwelling by
sealing doorways with
drop cloths.
5. Children, pregnant or
potentially pregnant
women and nursing moth-
ers should not be present
in the work area until the
work is done and all
cleanup is complete.
6. Wear a dust respirator or a
dual filter (dust and fume)
respirator mask which has
been approved by the
Occupational Safety and
Health Administration
(OSHA), the National
Institute of Safety and
Health (NIOSH), or the
United States Bureau of
Mines. These masks and
replaceable filters are
readily available at major
hardware stores. Be sure
the mask fits. Beards and
facial hair may keep
masks from sealing prop-
erly. Change filters often.
DISPOSABLE PAPER
MASKS ARE NOT
ADEQUATE.
7. Use caution when operat-
ing the hot air gun. Keep
the hot air gun moving as
excessive heat will gener-
ate fumes which can be
inhaled by the operator.
4
8. Keep food and drink out
of the work area. Wash
hands, arms and face and
rinse mouth before eating
or drinking. Do not smoke
or chew gum or tobacco in
the work area.
9. Clean up all removed
paint and dust by wet
mopping the floors. Use a
wet cloth to clean all walls,
sills and any other surface
where paint or dust is
clinging. DO NOT SWEEP,
DRY DUST OR VACUUM.
Use a high phosphate
detergent or trisodium
phosphate (TSP) to wash
and mop areas.
10. At the end of each work
session put the paint chips
and debris in a double
plastic bag, close it with
tape or twist ties, and dis-
pose of properly.
11. Remove protective cloth-
ing and work shoes in the
work area to avoid carry-
ing dust into the rest of the
dwelling. Wash work
clothes separately. Wipe
shoes off with a wet rag
that is then washed with
the work clothes. Wash
hair and body thoroughly
with soap and water.
SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS
Forward the product to the
attention of:
Master Appliance Corp.
Attn: Service Department
2420 - 18th Street
Racine, Wl 53403