Stripping lead-based paint

[nothanks]

I've spent the last couple of days cutting-out and replacing rotten oak and pitch pine from a large window frame, which means stripping and repainting the whole thing. The house is 1930s so underneath the modern'ish paint is lead-based paint - confirmed by the stickyness and then the hard residue when I started stripping with a hot air gun. I haven't had to strip lead-based paint before but I assume I wear a mask and make sure not to burn the paint. The question really is how to remove the hard residue, preferably without chemical stripper. I assume that I hot scrape as much as possible and then sand with dust extraction and lots of ventilation, but await guidance from anyone in the know.

[tabbypurr]

You should definitely not be using a heatgun or sander on lead paint. Stick with wet process.

What's well adhered, let it stay. It offers better protection than modern paint anyway.

NT

[F Murtz]

If you are old do whatever you used to do, if you are young take all modern precautions. Most of the problems take a number of years to become evident and will not be a problem with less years left.

[Brian Gaff (Sofa)]

I'd seriously doubt its a real issue unless you are doing it as a career. I mean loads of us had to do this way back and the lead was not seemingly a cause of issues for the day er back then. Brian

[Brian Gaff (Sofa)]

Chemicals seemed to work in the old days, unless they too have gone into the elf and safety bad books. Brian

[nothanks]

I've had the chance now to look at guidance from several government bodies and it seems that the critical temperature to stay below is 600C, although some guidance recommends staying below 200C. Based on this I don't see what's wrong with using a hot air gun, but mine is ancient so I've ordered one with temperature control.

Painting-over isn't an option when that's been done many times before.

[nothanks]

I would deny being "old" (and will until my last day ;-) ) but I admit to not being "young". It seems that a temperature-controlled hot air gun is the answer so I'll be replacing my ancient one - a new toy!

[newshound]

I think by the 1930's the risks were very much reduced by changes in formulation.

From Wikipedia (there is more):

The dangers of lead paint were considered well-established by the beginning of the 20th century. In the July 1904 edition of its monthly publication, Sherwin-Williams reported the dangers of paint containing lead, noting that a French expert had deemed lead paint "poisonous in a large degree, both for the workmen and for the inhabitants of a house painted with lead colors".[5] As early as 1886, German health laws prohibited women and children from working in factories processing lead paint and lead sugar.[6] In 1786, Benjamin Franklin wrote a letter warning a friend about the hazards of lead and lead paint, which he considered well-established.[7]

The League of Nations began efforts to ban lead paint in 1921

[Fredxx]

even: Suggests the vapour pressure is very low for temperatures below 700C.

[nothanks]

Thanks, I hadn't thought to go back to first principles but this confirms what I'd found elsewhere. Any concerns I might have had have been assuaged - possibly made better by a trip to the pub! ;-)

[tabbypurr]

How that will stop paint powder being blown into the air I can't imagine.

NT