I just finished tearing out the wallpaper from a small room in our 1906 house. The glue is coming up with DIF, water and some elbow grease. The walls underneath are plaster with several coats of very gaudy paint. I assume the paint contains lead -- I also think it might be oil-based as the color doesn't come up when I scrub with water and a brillo pad. The paint is chipped and peeling in a few small areas. The plaster has a few minor cracks and is not as even as I would like, but is generally sound.

I've read through this forum, and am considering using Peelaway #1 to remove the paint from the plaster walls. How do I go about smoothing and repairing the plaster? Can I use a sander to bring down the high spots? What kind of seam tape should I use on the small cracks? What kind of plaster mix? (Patching plaster, plaster of paris, something else?) Should I put a skim coat over everything after patching? Is this something that should be left to a professional, or can I tackle it myself? What kind of primer should I use before painting? BIN123, Kilz, other? How long do I need to let the plaster dry before priming?

Any advice and tips on technique, materials etc would be much appreciated.... This small room is my training ground -- if this turns out well, the bedrooms and dining room come next.

The Peel Away 1 will be a good choice in removing the paint from the plaster. The primer you will use depends on how much skimming and repair is done to the walls and will best be addressed after that work is done.

Maybe some others have thoughts on the repairing of the walls.

I'm wondering how successful you were with your bathroom. I'm removing old paint from my 1925 house and I also have plaster walls. The old paint has been flaking off and is all over the bathroom, driving me crazy. Time to get rid of it. But I'm finding that once the flaky stuff is removed, it's a lot harder to remove the rest of the paint. Any suggestions on how to get it off quickly and as painlessly as possible? In the past steaming stuff off has worked for me, but doesn't seem to work here. Thanks for any advice.

Try Multi-strip (available at a paint store). You brush it on, let it sit until it bubbles and it takes it off. A little pricey, but it works. Not as toxic as old paint removers and you don't have the issues with heat guns (fire hazard and issues with lead paint). Good luck!