• There are dozens of tools that can be used to remove interior and exterior paintPhotodisc/Photodisc/Getty Images
  
  Stripping paint is no easy task. It requires strength and time, especially if there are multiple layers of paint that need to be stripped away. The tools for stripping paint are available from local hardware stores, home improvement stores or online.
  
  

Applying Heat

• Heat guns, heat plates, blow torches and infra-red heaters may all be used to loosen paint and then a manual scraper is used to remove the paint. Gloves should be worn while using these tools, since they can become extremely hot. Be careful when using the first three tools listed that embers do not get caught under the wood you're stripping, as this is a fire hazard.
  
  

Grinding

• Use an electric grinder, clapboard sander (electric or manual) or power sanding disk on low power to grind paint away. These are noisy and can scratch and dent the wood if used inappropriately.
  
  

Chemicals and Peel Away

• There are dozens of chemical paint strippers available cheaply on the market today that vary in chemical composition. According to reports from the Forest Service, United States Department of Agriculture and US Consumer Product Safety Commission, stripping chemicals tend to be more dangerous to humans the faster they work. Strippers containing methylene chloride, which can work in as little as 10 minutes, can burn your skin and eyes, as well as cause a number of other dangerous conditions including cancer and organ damage. Therefore, when using a stripper, remember to follow all safety precautions and provide good ventilation by opening all windows and doors.
  
  Alkali-based Peel Away products take up to a day to work but can be very useful when multiple layers of paint need to be removed. You must apply an acid neutralizer, such as oxalic acid, after using Peel Away products, because they can degrade paint that is applied later. Peel-Away chemicals are also finicky in that you cannot apply too much or too little or you will have problems neutralizing the wood or refinishing it.
  
  

Scraping

• A manual paint scraper is cheap and easy to use when the paint is only loosely attached to the surface underneath.
  
  

Safety Precautions

• Use a respirator mask, gloves and protective goggles when using methylene chloride-based strippers or removing lead-based paint. When applying heat or grinding to remove paint, lead is released in the dust and smoke. Exposure can be reduced if the tool you use can be attached to a vacuum to collect particles and dust.
  
  

Paint Disposal

• Lead-based paint is considered hazardous waste and often cannot be disposed of like normal trash. Use a search engine to find your state's laws pertaining to paint disposal. Also contact your local waste management company because they may have particular protocols for picking up paint that contains lead.