Posted by Dale on January 10, 1998 at 11:05:19:
In Reply to: Re: Stripping paint from and refinishing wood posted by Frank Michaels on January 10, 1998 at 08:04:39:
I would be concerned about the use of a torch for stripping wood as fire is frequently a side effect of this approach. This can even occur hours after the stripping event has ended. If the paint that you strip contains lead (toxic) then the torch temperature exceeds the vapor pressure of the lead and you can inhale lead fumes.
An alternative would be the use of a heat gun paint stripper (available for about $35 for a wagner and $85 for a Milwaukee) that are very effective at stripping wood and also do not get high enough to vaporize lead.
The risk of fire is still there although I think the risk is less for the inexperienced user. Think of these tools as giant hairdryers. Dispose of old paint particles carefully and do not inhale the dust or vacuum them up. They should be swept up and disposed of in a sealed bag or container.