Opening painted shut windows

[wowfudge]

We've recently moved into an Edwardian house which has original metal casement windows and frames set into wooden surrounds. I am yet to find a window I can open in the original part of the house although the catches are in working order and the frames are not painted over inside.

Assuming they won't open as they are painted over externally (the exterior was painted last year and I can see that the external hinges have been painted over in many cases), what's the best and neatest way to break the paint seal and open them?

They still have the original glass btw and we are wary of using brute force to open them in case we damage them.

Bump. Any advice anyone?

I have no experience with this, so it might well be a stupid idea, but can you use paint thinner or something similar to remove the paint?

Slide a palette knife or similar between the bits? or a sharp knife? You could maybe use some of the stuff you can get for softening paint (instead of sanding) to use on hinges.

I would get a Stanley knife with a new blade and cut where the opening should be from the outside. If the paint has gone through and is acting like glue I would slide a thin knife as far along the edges as possible then open the window.

I think that there will be some sanding and touching up to do to get them to look good again, but having windows that open are imortant

I've only done it once and I used a heat in nd carpet knife.
Heated the paint very gently just so it softens, cut with the knife. Do it internally and externally. Use a light spray of WD40 to finally loosen the runners etc.

Thanks - I thought Stanley knife myself. DP is talking about using a chisel which sounds like a sledgehammer to crack a nut approach to me! I might have a go at an easy to reach window myself before he wrecks anything

X post Seeyou - interesting; we have a heat gun.

Just be careful and just warm it, don't melt it, burn it etc.
There might be lead or flammables or whatever's.

Basically.... do it at your own risk and if you burn your house down its not my fault.

Given his chisel-wielding intentions, I may not mention the heat gun!

Stanley knife and wd40