I have used a lot of different brands of wallpaper steamer over the years in my capacity as a professional decorator. Some expensive, and some cheap. I’ve been using the Wagner SteamForce stripper for the last two and a half years now, so I figured it was time I put pen to paper and write a quick review.
As with all wallpaper steamers, the idea behind the SteamForce is simple; You add water to the reservoir, which then heats up. As the water starts to boil, steam is forced up a flexible tube and reaches a flat head. Keep the head pressed against wallpaper, and the steam melts the paste, allowing you to remove the wallpaper with a filling knife or scraper.
You can buy the Wagner SteamForce Wallpaper Stripper online by clicking here. It holds around 4L of water, the hose is 3.7M long, and you also get a smaller head for tight areas.
My Wagner SteamForce Wallpaper Stripper Review
Let’s get down to the nitty gritty, is this steamer any good? Well, it does take a little bit of time for the steamForce to heat the water to heat up, but one reservoir of water will last for over an hour of constant work, so your working day is hardly interrupted at all.
The Steamer is powerful enough to do its job and the head forms a tight enough seal around the wall to make the machine very efficient. It certainly makes light work of woodchip.
There’s more too. As already mentioned, I am a professional decorator, so my steamer is used very regularly. Most of the time I’d expect a steamer to last me a year or so before needing to buy another. The Wagner SteamForce just seems to go and go. I’ve had mine for ages, and it shows no sign of slowing down.
I think this is down to the build quality. You can feel it as soon as you pick the steamer up. Everything on the outside is robust and well made, and that quality obviously runs right through the tool.
Conclusion
A lot of decorators I know spend big money on steamers, whereas the Wagner is relatively cheap. I personally don’t see any difference in quality. The SteamForce is better than anything else in its price bracket, and as good as any of the expensive steamers I have used.
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Review Summary
Wagner SteamForce Wallpaper Stripper Review - Decorator's forum UK
A wallpaper steamer. You simply fill it with water, plug it in, wait for a minute, then it starts to produce steam. Simple really.
Product Brand: Wagner
4.8
Pros
- Effective.
- Doesn’t take long to heat up.
- Robust.
- Difficult to knock over.
- It’ll last for years.
Cons
- There are high-end steamers that cost £200 or more that perform better, but this is the best one I’ve used in its price range.
FAQs
Are wallpaper steamers worth it?
You can remove wallpaper without a steamer providing you can remove the top layer of paper while it’s dry. Then you soak the backing paper until the glue softens. However, using a wallpaper steamer speeds the process up, and it’s essential if the wallpaper is being stubborn.
How long does it take a Wagner wallpaper steamer to heat up?
A Wagner SteamForce Wallpaper Stripper takes roughly 12 minutes to heat up, which is fast compared to a lot of the other steamers available.
Do you put hot or cold water in a wallpaper steamer?
Most people use cold water in a wallpaper steamer, but I often add hot. This speeds things up. You’re not waiting as long from plugging the steamer in for it to get going.
Should you wear a mask when steaming wallpaper?
The steam itself isn’t harmful, but PPE is always a good idea when you’re decorating, so I don’t discourage it. It will stop you from inhaling dust too.
How do I know when my Wagner steamer is ready?
Your Wagner SteamForce Wallpaper Stripper is ready when steam starts coming through the guard.
This is 2 Kw . The trade beeline ones example are 2.4Kw , more powerful but this can cause problems generators on site and extension leads etc .
The price of the trade ones are very expensive nowadays .
Once mine breaks l am tempted just to hire a beeline from local hardware shop £7.50 a day and tell non customers neighbours and everyone else that want a loan mine to do the same !