Help - how to refurbish fireplace (inc. lead paint?)

PlumLuck

Jane_Bee said:

Don't use a heat gun on cast iron. 

Have just been through the very painful process of stripping, id say it depends what look you want. 

Stripping revealed the detail and I used a graphite iron paste to make it look great (can't use on fireplaces that have fire in). 

If you want to strip, getting someone to come take it away and blast the paint off will save you a lot of time. Look up fireplace restoration places locally. 

I ended up using Peelaway 7. Leave this on covered and then use wire brush and rags to take the paint. I expect you might need a few coats like I did. The graphite paste did nicely cover the title bits I couldn't get to. 

It is a lot of faff though. So painting is a nice easy option!

I would much rather take it off and have someone else do it but I dread to think the damage it would leave behind! It looks like it’s been filled in and other bits attached at various points. 

I think I’m going to go ahead and try painting it so I’ll try to update with how that goes!