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Just realized how many old furniture pieces have lead in the finish
I was refinishing a 1920s dresser for a client in Sacramento and decided to test it with a lead check swab on a hunch. The thing lit up bright pink, which means positive for lead. I found a study from the EPA online that said over 50% of pre-1978 furniture in the US could have lead-based paint or varnish. I had no idea the number was that high, I just figured it was rare. Has anyone else run into this and have a safe removal process they trust?
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the_emery5mo ago
Wait, is this why I've felt a little slow since I started sanding that old nightstand without a mask? (Kidding, mostly.) That EPA number is honestly scary, I thought it was just for houses. For removal, I watched a bunch of videos from that Restoring Stuff channel, they always use wet sanding and special lead-safe vacuum cleaners. The main thing seems to be keeping everything wet so the dust doesn't get in the air, and never dry sanding.
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