Windows Painted Shut--Forever?

[tioga 0630]

I spent about two hours with various tools trying to pry loose the upper sash of a relatively new double hung window in my mother's bathroom. The window is circa 1973 and with an aluminum sash channel, so there's no parting stop to remove and consequently no possibility to take out the lower (or inner) sash in order to get at the outer.

All I managed to do was begin to separate the pane from the lower horizontal wood strip of the sash, from hammering. Ultimately it seems the dude who called himself a housepainter painted the window shut from the outside (this window is 25' above the ground).

Is there any fixative or paint remover that comes in a spray can, or with a tiny "straw" attached to it like you find on stuff like WD-40? Aside from totally removing the window, can anyone think of a way to loosen this sash? The whole problem came to my attention when I realized how filthy the windows were and tried to wash them.

[Childfree Scott]

Have you tried using a heat gun to remove the old paint?

[nospam]

There's a special tool sold for that. It looks sort of like a pointed putty knife with saw tooths along both edges. You saw into the paint along the edge of the window where it meets the wood of the frame. Go to your hardware store and get one.

When windows and frames are painted, these windows should be opened and shut several times before the paint gets hard. But, no one ever does this....

[xrongor]

or some zip strip. you can remove the paint the easy way, or the hard way. sounds like youve taken the hard way so far...

randy

[Dan Hall]

I have taped off around the channels and carefully sprayed silicon spry into channel surfaces (keeping it off of the window surfaces where I want paint to stick) before painting. Then I open and shut a few times as paint hardens as mentioned above. -Dan

[John Barry]

I'm guessing as to what tools you used, and how. I'd suggest using a "painter's 5-in-one" tool and one of the special-purpose tooth-edged tools to cut along the parting line of the sash and what it's binding with. This will remove some of the paint in the area and do minimal damage.

Then try inserting the 5-in-1 between the pieces. And/or a relatively stiff 1" putty knife. And/or one of the really thin-bladed Japanese pry-bars. Work all around the sash, and try walking it down.

Before risking destroying it, I'd ask local expert for 2nd opinion and help.

Works for me, John

[tioga 0630]

All-- Thanks for the suggestions. I have one of those 5-in-1's but not the saw-toothed thing. Heat gun too may be a possibility if used real carefully.

Glad I posted!