Paint stripping...how much is enough?

[pqtex]

I've been working on my salvaged porch columns. The plan is to scrape and sand down to bare wood, then condition with blopentine, prime with oil-based primer, fill nail holes, spot prime, paint with latex/acrylic paint...

So my question is, how much is enough?
Does it look like I have removed enough paint to apply the blopentine (50/50 boiled linseed oil & turpentine)? And although I haven't tested for lead and I don't plan on chewing on it, I'd like to remove as much of the old paint as possible. So again, how much is enough to be considered lead-free?

At what point do I stop scraping and sanding and get on with the next step?

Jill

p.s. one of my older cousins told me today that he remembered when the old columns were still on the porch. He said he was very young and got in a little trouble for using one of the columns as his canvas for his crayon drawings!

[steponmebbbboom]

If you want to get the paint out of the pores of the wood, you can soften it up with some citrus stripper, then go over it with a wire brush. This will only be necessary if you are staining and varnishing the wood. For painting, you are good to go as is.

[jade mortimer]

it looks to me like you are ready for oiling! what a great job you have done...the paint that remains in the weathered pits is fine...rule of thumb--if the old paint is tenaciously attached, it isn't going anywhere and it is safe to begin the fun work--oil, primer and paint...

looking forward to seeing the results....

[PowerMuffin]

Geez, you really have done a nice job!
Diane

[Eden]

Looks fine to me. I did the ones on my front porch. I strip it w/a heat gun and sand it smooth after applying Bondo in cracks and nicks. I run my hand down them and if it feels smooth I go ahead and paint.

[pqtex]

Thanks, everyone. I'm using a combination of techniques. I'm using a putty knife to lift up pieces of paint, where that works. The heat gun works on some areas, and whatever is left got the paint scraper, then hand sanding with 80 grit. Will use 120 grit for a once-over before I proceed. I am not using any chemical strippers because I don't want to worry about the washes or leaving any residue behind.

The capitals are in good shape to do the same process and re-use.

The bases and plinths were known to be in worse shape, but removing the paint revealed that the paint might have been what was holding them together! I originally planned on replacing them anyway, but I do want to explore whether it is possible to repair them, using wood glue, gorilla glue, or something else. Or maybe it's just better to replace them. One thing for sure...at least one plinth is not cypress...which I discovered when I was using the heat gun. It was a bit of a surprise to see the resin bubble out and release the wonderful pine aroma.