My jon boat came with an older trailer that I want to refinish.  The trailer is home made.  The registration says 1965 but the previous owner seems to think the registration was 'arranged' and that the trailer isn't really that old.  The trailer doesn't look like it was made in 1965.

Anyhow, I plan to sand off the rust and apply a new coat of paint.  What's the chances the paint used is lead?  I don't want to poison myself and/or create a ton of lead dust for my children to deal with.  Did they use lead paint on trailers back then?

Thanks!

you can get a lead test kit from lowes to check

Don't you have to eat lead paint chips to be poison :-?

Or rub it into your skin :-?

If your that worried, put a plastic liner under it to catch the off fall, then wrap up and wait for a chemical trash day to drop it off

Or sell the trailer with a warning "NOT TO BE CONSUMED"  ;D

Lead dust can be inhaled. When I was in the boilermakers union as a welder from 99-2002 I tested positive for lead every 6 months. It makes you very irritable.   Invest in a good respirator.

Amen!

Brings back a bad memory :'(

Thanks everyone.  I'll look for the test kit at Lowes and if it comes up positive I'll use a respirator and drop cloth to collect the dust.  You guys rock!

Is the trailer galvanized?  You'll have issues getting normal paint to stick if it is.  Just an FYI, duraliner or any of the truck bed liners can be applied over galvanized  Gives it a texture too which can help if you walk on it in the water.