Removing old very hard putty - what's the best way to do this? It's in a
Critall steel window, and I wouldn't be surprised if it's the original
1930s putty.

I've been using an old wood chisel and a hammer, but it's very very slow
work. Is there a much better way? Not keen on a blow torch, as there's
probably loads of lead paint on it, but would a hot air gun help soften it?

..

On 14/04/2021 10:12, GB wrote:
Removing old very hard putty - what's the best way to do this? It's in a
Critall steel window, and I wouldn't be surprised if it's the original
1930s putty.

I've been using an old wood chisel and a hammer, but it's very very slow
work.Â* Is there a much better way? Not keen on a blow torch, as there's
probably loads of lead paint on it, but would a hot air gun help soften it?

.

Multi-tool with scraper blade?

Check Youtube for "multitool window putty"

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mailto : news {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk

as its a metal frame you are fine, my first ever attempt at that on a
wooden frame resulted in a chipped chisel on a hidden nail.
Brian

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"alan_m" wrote in message
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On 14/04/2021 10:12, GB wrote:
Removing old very hard putty - what's the best way to do this? It's in a
Critall steel window, and I wouldn't be surprised if it's the original
1930s putty.

I've been using an old wood chisel and a hammer, but it's very very slow
work. Is there a much better way? Not keen on a blow torch, as there's
probably loads of lead paint on it, but would a hot air gun help soften
it?

.

Multi-tool with scraper blade?

Check Youtube for "multitool window putty"

--
mailto : news {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk

On 14/04/2021 16:57, Brian Gaff (Sofa) wrote:
as its a metal frame you are fine, my first ever attempt at that on a
wooden frame resulted in a chipped chisel on a hidden nail.
Brian


I can remember glass going "ping" when using a blowtorch.

This was on first purchasing a house that, according the estate agent
speak, had many period features. What they really meant that it required
major refurbishment but at the time I didn't have the money and DIY was
the only option including trying to rescue rotten window frames complete
with flaking paint

--
mailto : news {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk

On 14/04/2021 10:12, GB wrote:
Removing old very hard putty - what's the best way to do this? It's in a
Critall steel window, and I wouldn't be surprised if it's the original
1930s putty.

I've been using an old wood chisel and a hammer, but it's very very slow
work.Â* Is there a much better way? Not keen on a blow torch, as there's
probably loads of lead paint on it, but would a hot air gun help soften it?

.
Correct, warming it up will make a surprising difference. Especially
easy with Critall windows because you can supply heat to the frames ane
warm it up from the inside. Do it gently until you find the right
setting to avoid risk of glass cracking (unless the glass is already
cracked, of course).

On 14/04/2021 11:42, newshound wrote:
On 14/04/2021 10:12, GB wrote:
Removing old very hard putty - what's the best way to do this? It's in
a Critall steel window, and I wouldn't be surprised if it's the
original 1930s putty.

I've been using an old wood chisel and a hammer, but it's very very
slow work.Â* Is there a much better way? Not keen on a blow torch, as
there's probably loads of lead paint on it, but would a hot air gun
help soften it?

.
Correct, warming it up will make a surprising difference. Especially
easy with Critall windows because you can supply heat to the frames ane
warm it up from the inside. Do it gently until you find the right
setting to avoid risk of glass cracking (unless the glass is already
cracked, of course).


A hot air heat gun with a direction nozzle is preferable to a blow torch
if any of the glass is to be saved.

--
mailto : news {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk

On 14/04/2021 12:00, alan_m wrote:
On 14/04/2021 11:42, newshound wrote:
On 14/04/2021 10:12, GB wrote:
Removing old very hard putty - what's the best way to do this? It's
in a Critall steel window, and I wouldn't be surprised if it's the
original 1930s putty.

I've been using an old wood chisel and a hammer, but it's very very
slow work.Â* Is there a much better way? Not keen on a blow torch, as
there's probably loads of lead paint on it, but would a hot air gun
help soften it?

.
Correct, warming it up will make a surprising difference. Especially
easy with Critall windows because you can supply heat to the frames
ane warm it up from the inside. Do it gently until you find the right
setting to avoid risk of glass cracking (unless the glass is already
cracked, of course).


A hot air heat gun with a direction nozzle is preferable to a blow torch
if any of the glass is to be saved.

Agreed (although it does depend a bit on the torch, and whether or not
you are used to stripping paint from window frames with one). I started
with a blow-lamp!

But my recollection (it is a long time since I did this) was that if
anything less "heat" was needed for softening putty than for stripping
paint.

On 14/04/2021 12:17, newshound wrote:
On 14/04/2021 12:00, alan_m wrote:
On 14/04/2021 11:42, newshound wrote:
On 14/04/2021 10:12, GB wrote:
Removing old very hard putty - what's the best way to do this? It's
in a Critall steel window, and I wouldn't be surprised if it's the
original 1930s putty.

I've been using an old wood chisel and a hammer, but it's very very
slow work.Â* Is there a much better way? Not keen on a blow torch, as
there's probably loads of lead paint on it, but would a hot air gun
help soften it?

.
Correct, warming it up will make a surprising difference. Especially
easy with Critall windows because you can supply heat to the frames
ane warm it up from the inside. Do it gently until you find the right
setting to avoid risk of glass cracking (unless the glass is already
cracked, of course).


A hot air heat gun with a direction nozzle is preferable to a blow
torch if any of the glass is to be saved.

Agreed (although it does depend a bit on the torch, and whether or not
you are used to stripping paint from window frames with one). I started
with a blow-lamp!

But my recollection (it is a long time since I did this) was that if
anything less "heat" was needed for softening putty than for stripping
paint.


Thanks very much for the advice, everyone. I've even managed to find the
hot air gun, which my DW had hidden.