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Not sure how we’ve gone more than two years on a blog about the home without mentioning Martha Stewart. But now Mrs. Limestone, in yesterday’s post, finally has. The reason? She used a Martha technique of boiling off old paint to strip her old doorknobs and plates. Awesome! Something tells us we’re not going to be the only ones following suit this weekend. Check out the WT Reno on the link for play-by-play photos.
Boiling doorknobs ala Martha [Windsor Terrace Reno]


What's Your Take? Leave a Comment

  1. Sounds like a great method. Lead fumes aren’t given off until 300 – 500 deg C (depending on the compound). Water boils at 100 deg C. Seems pretty safe to me.

    If you transfer the water to another container, you could let it evaporate and then dispose of the container.

  2. I just don’t like the idea of boiling lead-based paint in my kitchen, and the water is not good for metal.

    Plus, what do you do with the water and paint mixture once you are done? I hope you don’t flush it or put it down the drain…

    Pros use lacquer thinner, they don’t boil metal hardware in water. The thinner removes all flecks and traces of paint too, even in hard to get at areas…

    Whatever works for you is great…

    -Jimmy

  3. Jimmy maybe its me, but boiling the stuff seemed a lot easier then what you describe..overnight, recycling, brushes, paying for the thinner, rubber gloves. So, maybe what you describe is a close second to Martha…i’ll let you fight it out with her directly.