Lead Paint Removal Tools

EPA RRP Compliant Lead Paint Removal Tools, Original Since 1985

The Paintshaver® Pro is the original mechanical lead paint removal tool built for lead-safe stripping. Three carbide blades shave lead paint off clapboards, trim, plus doors at one square foot every 20 to 30 seconds, down to bare wood. Built-in dust collection captures lead-containing debris at the source, connecting to any HEPA vacuum for EPA RRP compliant work on pre-1978 structures.

Invented by the family that still builds every tool in our Cranston, Rhode Island factory. Built from day one as a safer alternative to chemicals, heat guns, plus hand scraping.

Finish lead-safe with the Orbital SanderVac™ for dustless sanding. Pair with a HEPA vacuum under EPA RRP guidelines. Read our lead-safe paint removal guide.

For HEPA filters, pre-filter bags, plus vacuum hose for your lead-safe setup, see our Dustless Technologies HEPA accessories.

Why the Paintshaver® Pro for Lead Paint

Most paint removal methods are unsafe for lead work. The Paintshaver® Pro paired with a HEPA vacuum is the only method on this list that meets EPA RRP compliance.

Method Speed Lead Safety Limitations
Heat guns / infrared strippers Slow, inches per minute DANGER. Vaporizes lead into inhalable fumes. Not permitted under EPA RRP work practices. Fire risk. Lead fumes are more hazardous than lead dust.
Chemical strippers 4 to 24 hours per application Lead-containing residue requires hazardous disposal. Methylene chloride banned for consumer use. Residue contaminates soil plus water. Multiple rounds needed.
Hand scraping Very slow Uncontained lead dust. Fails EPA RRP cleanup verification. Inconsistent results. Full containment plus HEPA cleanup required. High worker exposure.
Sanding without dust collection Moderate DANGER. Airborne lead dust. Not permitted under EPA RRP. Requires full HEPA-filtered dust collection to be compliant.
Paintshaver® Pro + HEPA vacuum 20 to 30 seconds per sq ft EPA RRP compliant. Dust captured at source. Carbide blades for wood, Diamond blades for hard surfaces. Requires HEPA vacuum pairing.

What Customers Say

  • Richard J., University Heights, Ohio (85-year-old cedar shake house)

    “HEPA filtered vacuum was essential based upon the likelihood of lead based paint.”

  • Brian J., Littleton, MA

    “Hand scraping or grinding creates lead dust that is dangerous.”
Read More

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Paintshaver® model is best for lead paint removal?

The 9 Amp Pro ($849) is the most popular model for RRP-certified contractors doing full-house lead-safe restoration, with a 5-year warranty. The 12 Amp Pro ($999) adds soft-start, anti-kickback, plus a lifetime warranty for production crews. The 6 Amp DIY ($749) handles smaller jobs plus homeowner work on their own pre-1978 residence.

Do I need the Combo Kit for a lead-safe setup?

The Combo Kit includes the Orbital SanderVac™ for the finishing step after stripping. For lead work it is the cleaner option because both tools connect to the same HEPA vacuum, giving you one contained workflow from strip to paint-ready. If you already own a dust-collecting orbital sander, the base Paintshaver® Pro is enough.

What HEPA vacuum pairs with the Paintshaver® Pro?

Any true HEPA-filtered wet/dry vacuum with a 1.25-inch hose connection. The vacuum must capture particles at 0.3 microns with 99.97% efficiency to meet EPA RRP standards. Standard shop vacs with paper or foam filters are not sufficient for lead work. The Paintshaver ships with a 10-foot, 1.25-inch ID vacuum hose. For replacement filters, pre-filter bags, plus additional vacuum hose, see our Dustless Technologies HEPA accessories.

How many blades will I need for a full-house lead stripping job?

Paintshaver Carbide Blades last roughly 300 to 500 square feet on wood siding depending on paint thickness. An average pre-1978 Cape or Colonial has 2,000 to 3,000 sq ft of siding, so plan on 5 to 10 blade sets ($59 each) for a full house. Diamond Tipped Blades are only needed if you are stripping lead paint on concrete, steel, or fiberglass.

Which blades for lead paint on wood versus other surfaces?

Paintshaver Carbide Blades ($59) for wood siding, trim, windows, plus doors (where most residential lead paint lives). Diamond Tipped Blades ($199) for lead paint on concrete, steel, or fiberglass. Carbide blades are not suitable for hard surfaces, plus Diamond blades are overkill for wood.

Is the Paintshaver® Pro EPA RRP compliant?

Yes, when paired with a HEPA-filtered vacuum. The built-in dust shroud captures lead-containing debris at the source, meeting EPA Renovation, Repair, plus Painting (RRP) rule work practice requirements. For the full compliance method, HEPA setup, plus containment steps, see our lead-safe paint removal guide.