On Wed, 27 Feb 2008 13:45:42 -0800 (PST), wrote:

I am thinking about purchasing a heat gun to handle old paint in my
house. I tested the paint, which I presumed for years was lead-based
(and sealed under layers of modern paint, but the test came clean. I
am no fool and there has to be SOME lead paint in my house though. I
am thinking about purchasing a heat gun and was told by a friend that
if I keep the heat at 450 degrees then I probably wouldn't have
problems with it.

I have seen walls and molding with 5-7 layers of paint. Chemical
peels were a total disaster. They never worked more than 90% of the
time.

I have, basically 12-18 window and door frames to repaint, a
staircase, a mantle, and 3 full rooms.

What's your advice on this one? Brand recommendations?

Back in the day (like 40 yrs ago), my brothers and I stripped a number
of houses with blowtorches. Now, I use a heat gun, run at max temp.
(The nameplate says 212-1000 deg, 1400 Watts.) IMO, you need serious
heat. As someone said above, just don't eat the stuff.

(AFAICT, I don't have serious cognitive impairment. Of course, I'd be
the last to know.)

George