I would have to say that it is almost 100% certain that there would be lead in the paint, considering
the age of the house.

Did you use the “pen” type, where you crush the middle of the pen to activate the chemical?
I use that and have always gotten a positive result on older homes (pre 1978). If it turns a pinky red colour then lead is present.

I have also used this to test ceramic bowls made in mexico. And yes, it came back positive, so
no salsa going in that bowl.

Eric Goodwill

Fortunately I learned very quickly that the heat gun was terribly effective with all the fine wood detail and endedup mostly using harsh chemicals.

Plumbic Gas.

This is the result of heating the old paint hot enough to cause it to lift and curl, which allows you to scrape it off. When you heat the old paint this hot, over 700 degrees Farenheit, some of the existing lead in the old paint can vapourize and be inhaled by the person doing the stripping, or anyone nearby.

Lead as a paint additive, was banned from residential use in the 70’s, so you are pretty much guaranteed to find lead in trim on older homes. Lead although toxic did make an excellent pigment as it had excellent opacity, which resulted in great hiding ability of the paint. This was especially true of the reds and yellows.

So, getting back to the Plumbic gas. Lead is extremely toxic. It is especially dangerous for babies, children, pregnant women, women of child bearing age (who want children) and of course women who are breatfeeding. This is because lead attacks the development of the central nervous system and has been shown to cause all sorts of issues in children.

If you are going to do any of stripping of old trim, make sure that you have a proper fitted respirator that has a filter specifically made for vapourized lead. You can get these filters at Summit Tools on First Avenue in Burnaby (just past Boundary). Also make sure you wash your hands thoroughly before eating anything. (Like your mother always said)

Eric Goodwill