How to Soften Hard Putty for Hardwood Floors
Soften hard putty in hardwood floors before repairing or refurbishing your floor. Putty also may need to be replaced over time. Wood putty is used to fill in areas of missing wood. Once it sets in the floor, the best way to remove the wood putty is by heating it and then prying it out. A heat gun is the most recommended tool for softening putty, although you can heat it in other ways. This job can be time-consuming. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Heat Gun
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1
Set the heat gun to one of its lowest settings.
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2
Heat the putty until it is soft. Place the heat gun directly above the putty, but don't touch it. Move the gun back and forth over the putty.
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3
Pry the putty with a putty knife as it is softened by the heat gun.
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4
Put the heat gun on a higher setting and repeat the above process for any putty that still remains.
Hair Dryer
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5
Place a hair dryer on its highest setting.
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6
Blow hot air onto the putty until it is soft. Keep the hair dryer directly above the putty without touching it
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7
Use a putty knife to pry out the putty.
Soldering Iron
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8
Place a soldering iron directly above the surface of the putty.
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9
Soften the putty with the heat from the soldering iron.
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10
Remove the putty with a putty knife as you the soldering iron over the area.
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11
Push the tip of the soldering iron into any putty that remains in the floor. Use the tip of the soldering iron to help remove the putty.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Remove small sections of the putty at a time. As the putty softens, you might be able to pull strips of it out of the floor with tweezers.
Avoid overheating other areas of the wood. Place a cloth or other protective material on the floor near the putty.
