Got schooled on a job in Phoenix about using a heat gun for old putty

I was working on a big old window restoration in a Phoenix bungalow, maybe 5 months back. The lead guy, a real old timer, insisted we use a heat gun to soften the glazing putty before removal. Everyone on the crew swore by it. I thought it was a waste of time, that a good sharp chisel and some muscle was faster. Well, I went at a pane my way and the whole wooden sash split right along the grain. It was a clean, loud crack. That mistake cost the client an extra $200 for a new custom sash and me a full day of shame. Now I see the heat isn't just for the putty, it's to keep the wood from shocking and breaking. It's a slower process, but it saves the original frame. Anyone else have a stubborn habit they had to break the hard way on a restoration job?

2 comments

2 Comments

jamie_garcia2525d ago

Totally get that, learned a similar lesson stripping paint. Rushed in with a scraper on some original trim and just shredded the soft old wood underneath. Now I warm everything up first, it feels slow but actually saves so much time fixing mistakes later.

jason_stone25d ago

Come on, a heat gun for EVERY old window? Seems like overkill. I've chiseled out plenty of putty just fine. Maybe @jamie_garcia25 and the OP just got unlucky with some super dry wood.