We are pleased to share some inspiring stories from homeowners and professionals who’ve discovered how transformative the Speedheater™ Cobra infrared paint removal tool can be. Each account highlights the joys and challenges of preserving windows in older homes. By reading firsthand accounts and tips, we hope you’ll feel confident tackling your own window restoration projects. Let these stories motivate you to preserve, restore, and celebrate the character of your historic windows!
A customer's window restoration journey
Speedheater user Frank Gibbs writes about his window restoration experiences
“After moving into a 1901 Dutch colonial revival house in Toledo, OH, my passion for architecture was reignited by the original wood windows, the likes of which I had never seen before. Difficulty finding a local window restorer led me to searching for–and finding–the incredible old house and window restorer communities including Eco-Strip. Three years after my first attempt at fixing one of our own windows, I’ve since started my own wood window restoration business–The Wood Window Clinic–and my Speedheater™ Cobra continues to be the first tool I pick up on any window job. It specifically helped me in a recent project I’m very proud of where I completely restored a bay window and window seat back to a shellac finish in a woman’s childhood home. Layers of paint, lead paint, and very dark varnish were all removed so I could get back down to wood for a glass-like finish that matched the recently refinished floors in the main bedroom!”
Frank’s refinished windows in an amber shellac finish, window seat to match, and the top and bottom sashes opening just the way they were originally intended!
Follow Frank on Instagram!
Follow @frangkibbs at https://www.instagram.com/frangkibbs
Follow Frank’s Window business @thewoodwindowclinic at https://www.instagram.com/thewoodwindowclinic
The perfect tool to remove 100 years of paint
We were pleased hear from Connor Curran, from Massachusetts, who has told us of experience in using the Speedheater Cobra in his window restoration project. Here’s John describing his project and his tip for using the Cobra…
“My late 1800s home had 56 sashes with wavy glass that needed full restoration. The Speedheater Cobra was the perfect tool to get over 100 years of paint off quickly. I set up two saw horses with a plywood table top a few inches bigger than the sash on all sides. I screwed some lengths of 1 inch scrap on all four sides to hold the sash in place while I worked. My tip would be to slowly move the Speedheater and scrape right behind it as you go, and the many layers of paint will come right off with some practice and patience. This is not a project I could have tackled without the Speedheater Cobra.”
“Make certain to label each sash so it will return to the same window it was removed from. Even if they are all the same size. Trust me.”
Many thanks to Connor, for sharing his Speedheater renovation story and photos!
The effectiveness of Speedheater's Infrared tools
We were to pleased hear from Stacy Grinsfelder, of Blake Hill House and the True Tales From Old Houses podcast. Stacy writes about why she uses Speedheater tools to restore her 1800s home, Blake Hill House, and in the teaching of Window Restoration Workshops.
“I reach for my Speedheater Cobra for every window restoration project here at Blake Hill House. I’ve been restoring the windows for the past seven years and couldn’t live without it. Now that I’m teaching window restoration workshops regularly, I love introducing my students to the safety and effectiveness of Infrared and the Speedheater tools. They are often surprised by how quickly it loosens paint and how it can soften glazing putty without breaking the glass. It is a very versatile tool.”
Follow Stacy on Instagram @blakehillhouse_ at https://www.instagram.com/blakehillhouse_
Connect with Stacy on the Blake Hill House website. It offers trustworthy information, windows restoration workshops, DIYers consultations and a link to her podcast “True Tales From Old Houses”. Visit https://www.blakehillhouse.com/
Many thanks to Stacy for sharing her Speedheater renovation story!
Your restoration journey
We’d love to hear your renovation experiences using Speedheater tools! Share your story with us via our contact form at this link.
Introducing the Speedheater™ Cobra
The Speedheater™ Cobra is the FASTEST infrared paint remover on the market. The Cobra is the perfect tool for DIY homeowners stripping doors, windows, spindles, tight spaces, furniture, and more. With its 20-year-tested infrared technology and with INCREDIBLE SPEED the new Cobra strips paint, varnish, and adhesives.
Watch the Speedheater™ Cobra in action.
For more information, and to purchase the Speedheater™ Cobra, visit:
https://eco-strip.com/product/speedheater-cobra/
