Replies

1. 
   PlaneWood | Mar 24, 2004 11:05pm | #1

   Wash you hands afterwards and don't eat any of the paneling.

   Hardly any lead based paint was around 20 years ago.

   PlaneWood by Mike_in_Katy (maker of fine sawdust!)
   PlaneWood

1. 
   wop | Mar 25, 2004 12:23am | #2

       OH and now you tell me !!!!! Grilled vintage paneling has been my favorite dish for years and now it's bad for me! ... really just great.... thanks alot.Well so much for the aged vintage stuff now I'll have to stick to the new domestic.Bad news just never ends.Next you'll be telling me my antique floor board stew is to avoid as well.

                                                                                      Philip

2. 
   Leonardo | Mar 25, 2004 02:59pm | #7

   PW,

   I'm sorry I wasn't clear.  What I should have said is that the paneling has been covering the wainscoating for twenty years.  It was painted sometime in the 1930's.  I will take the rest of your advise.

   Thanks to All for the other good advise, Len

   Edited 3/25/2004 8:05 am ET by Leonardo

2. 
   Mackwood | Mar 25, 2004 12:33am | #3

   Leonardo,

   First test it.  There are little test kits available at all commercial paint stores, maybe even at home improvement places.  If it is lead based then use precautions depending on what you want to do to it, stripping, sanding etc.  Your state department of Labor and Industries or equivalent will have a large pamphlet available for free.  It will tell you everything you ever wanted to know and much, much more.

   More than likely it is not lead as Mike noted, but if it is; keep everyone's exposure to the absolute minimum.

   Regards,

   Mack

   "WISH IN ONE HAND, S--T IN THE OTHER AND SEE WHICH FILLS UP FIRST"

3. 
   RoyinMD | Mar 25, 2004 12:43am | #4

   Len,

   The big box stores, paint and hardware stores have lead paint testing kits. Be sure you know what your dealing with before starting. I tested my whole house (with one kit) inside and out right after buying it. 50 year old house and only found lead paint in two small areas.

   Oh, and don't ask any government (fed, state or local) authorities. They will certainly tell you what you have to do. The law says..ya ya ya.

   Me, I cleaned and patched carefully, and painted the piss out of it.

   Enjoy, Roy

4. 
   WayneL5 | Mar 25, 2004 01:09am | #5

   Lead is hazardous from injestion.  It won't be hazardous from other exposures, for example, it won't be absorbed through the skin.  If you chemically strip it, not raising dust, and wearing rubber gloves of course, you can probably remove it safely.  Dust is a problem because it can settle on food and also mouthable surfaces, which presents a hazard to children.

   Children are very strongly affected by lead exposure, and it can be serious.  Adults are not affected as much.

   I recommend reading the literature from legitimate lead authorities as to the best way to remediate it.  There's probably much on the internet.

   You could also remove the wainscoting and take it somewhere off site to be professionally stripped.

1. 
   BenM | Mar 25, 2004 02:56pm | #6

   Not just ingestion.  You can get lead poisoning from breathing in the dust or fumes.

5. 
   Fingrs | Mar 25, 2004 03:22pm | #8

   My opinion:  so long as the paint is well bonded, you can paint over it.  Most people (especially children) have trouble eating paint off of flat surfaces.  I have seen a case or two where labrador retrievers ate holes in walls...but for those critters I don't think a little lead poisoning makes much difference.  Like, how would you know?  Molding where the paint is chipping on the corners is the main culprit, I believe.  Like I said:  my opinion.