Wooden windows help

How's that for a title you thought you'd never see here.

OK, I'm taking the path of least resistance on this house; can't afford to replace all 11 windows, but am putting in storm/screen windows on the outside -- a vast improvement over the single panes with nothing else.

1st question: I have two windows which are painted shut from the previous owner. What's the easiest way to try and open them? Chip the paint? Solvent?
2nd question: The interior windows are wood frames and the slides have been painted. I can move most of the windows up a bit, but not enough to open a great bit. What's the easiest way to do that? Is there a solvent for the slides? Use a rubber mallet and nudge the windows up and down until they slide easier?

Any help would be appreciated...

 

use a razor knife around window

 

Makes me think of a Cenozoic version of Microsoft.

 

What Boom Said. Score around the window where it is painted.

As far as getting the others to move up and down, I'd just keep working them up and down until they slide the way you want. Go easy, dont break a pane of glass. Light sanding might help, but don't sand too much wood, if any. If it's old paint don't sand it - might have lead.

 

Hi, I'm Troy McClure. You might remember me from educational films such as "Lead Paint: Delicious but Deadly."

 

Get a mask that's rated for lead paint in case you sand too much. And a razor blade is probably the best way to do it. You may have to score the outside of the window as well.

 

They make a blade/knife for this. An angle blade. Fits tightly in a right-angle and has a replaceable blade at the tip. You'll be done in minutes. Cost and mess very minimal.

Or, any old utility knife and a straight hand will do.

 

I laughed at that out loud....

 

Look slappy stop laughing and get to work. OK?

 

Leave it to Darling Joe...

Don't sand lead paint - becomes airborn and you don't want that, even with a mask. Utility knife is the way to go.

 

You aren't the only one.

 

Did the four easy windows today. Have to go back to Home Depot tomorrow and get the three 32x55 windows I couldn't fit in the car and put those in, along with two others I have before I ran out of daylight.