Originally Posted by
Mr IGH
I've never seen paint really clean up enough for paint prep with a torch. I think you'll end up sanding/blasting anyway. I always use a powerful chemical stripper, ZipStrip. I use it in an open garage when the temp is above 70*F and give it time to work. I use a wire brush to remove the stripper/paint, takes me a few hours to remove all the paint completely.
Here's what I always see after torching the paint, this is silver solder brazing temp, lots of burned paint hanging on real tight:
Understood. However you were not really trying to burn the paint off. That was just collateral damage. If you set out to purposely burn paint off it goes through about three stages. Melts, Blackens, turns to Ash. Much of the ash drops off without provocation and the remainder gives up when attacked with a Dish Cloth soaked in White Spirit.
Some fettling is still required but apart from that it takes about 30 minutes to burn it down to bare steel.