"Bob" wrote in message
...
I'm planning to restore some painted wood to a more natural state. A
few
years back, using heat to strip old finishes was commonplace and
electric
heat guns were flying off the shelves. I only see chemical methods
mentioned now. Is there a good reason for this?


I can't comment on industry trends, but I bought a heat gun and stripped
my front door. I laid it over saw horses, so any fires would be
contained. It worked just fine.

I suppose lead paint could be a concern, and paint remover would keep
lead suspended and contained, whereas a heat gun could generate airborne
particles.