Planing painted wood

[Zac wingert]

I have a good amount, +\- 75BF, of 1x6 lumber 96” that is painted. It’s 30+ years old and it’s likely construction type wood, likely pine as I can see knots through the paint. I’d like to salvage it. Also, given its age there may be some nice old growth boards in there.

I know it will ruin my blades, but is there any other risk involved? I plan on holding on it it until it’s time for new blades and just running it through. I have a dewalt 735 and I’ve already flipped my blades once. Is there any other risk to my planer other than ruining the blades? I’m not interested in using paint stripper or sanding or anything like that. Thanks

[Jamie Buxton]

If it is old enough, it could be lead-based paint. If it is, planing it will put lead dust in the air. Inhaling lead is very bad for you.

[Zac wingert]

Thank you, didn’t even think of that. Even worse now that you say that, I’d bet there are several coats of paint on there too.

Well, any other ideas for it rather than throwing it away. If I were to say, cut it with a miter saw to make something for outdoor use, does that create enough dust to be dangerous? Just hate to throw it away.

[Steve Eure]

I would also worry about embedded nails too. I don't recall when the ban on lead paint was implemented, but I believe it was back in the 70's. Not too sure on that. If the wood is 30ish years old you may be safe, but why take the risk? Construction lumber iis quite inexpensive compared to hardwoods and it may not be worth the risk. But if your like me, I hate throwing any wood away.

[Ron Citerone]

Not sure if the paint dust would get ground into the rollers in addition to the other issues others posted. IMO, the juice ain't worth the squeeze. Maybe you can find another use for it.

My 2 cents.

[Andrew Hughes]

If the salvaged is thick enough I use a bandsaw and rip off the painted faces. Sometimes I rip off the top and bottom edges to save the blade a little.

[Mike Cutler]

I would first get a lead paint test stick and test it. If it's lead based paint, just sent it to the landfill.
If I wanted to get the paint off the surface with a machine, it would be the jointer, and not the planer, I'd use. Same result, but blades and clean up on a jointer are a lot easier than a planer, so is installing and setting a new blade set. That paint is going to get into everything on a planer.

[Grant Wilkinson]

After checking for lead, I would rent a floor edge sander and some 20 grit disks. HD here in Ottawa, Canada, has them. Once all the paint is removed, you could plane them to get them ready for future projects.

[johnny means]

I would only use that in its current state. It's not worth the effort.

[Doug Dawson]

I would first get a lead paint test stick and test it. If it's lead based paint, just sent it to the landfill.
If I wanted to get the paint off the surface with a machine, it would be the jointer, and not the planer, I'd use. Same result, but blades and clean up on a jointer are a lot easier than a planer, so is installing and setting a new blade set. That paint is going to get into everything on a planer.

Lead-based paint was supposedly banned in the US in 1978, but some rapscallions may have used leftover cans after that, so you should test. Also test for metal.

Assuming no lead, the best way of getting the paint off is with a Festool Rotex sander, it's delightfully fast for this sort of thing (do it outside and wear a mask, and hold on tight.) Save the surfacing for later.

[Lee Schierer]

Both of the Borgs carry lead test kits. You may need to ask to find them.

[Zac wingert]

The house was built in 1986, so shouldn’t be lead paint. I gave up on the idea but then I cross cut the end ofone board and even though it looks like pine or something it looks a whole lot better than what you buy at the borg now. Now I have to decide what to do again.
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[Kris Cook]

What about a handheld power planer? The one I have has disposable blades. Could get through the paint with that and then run through planer. Is the wood 4/4 or 3/4? Might not be enough there to do a whole lot with if you plane it. Sander might be a better idea if you are really determined to save it.

[Andrew Hughes]

It does look good Zac I’d try to salvage it too. Riftsawn pine it’s worth a look.
Plane it !

[Andrew Seemann]

Before you get too far, clean up a couple board feet and work with it to make sure you like it enough to do the rest. From the picture, it looks like either vertical grain fir (mostly vertical at least) or one of those hard pines from the South. Both of those woods can be quite hard and not easy to work with. Note that some people really like those woods, but not everyone does.