How to Dip and Strip Doors with Leaded Stained Glass?

[subzero]

We've got two doors which have leaded windows in the upper half of the door, fitted with stained glass. We want to get them stripped but worried about the glass. The dip and strip process uses a caustic solution rather than chemical. Would imagine it's best to remove the windows first but no idea how to do this. Any advice greatly appreciated.

 

[chappers]

you will definitely need to remove the glass, if they are old then the glass is probably held in with putty, you will have to chip this away carefully with a small chisel.

 

[alan333]

I had some doors dipped a while ago, including one with glass in the top half, and I don't remember taking the glass out. It was held by beading tho (maybe also putty behind it?). They were 1930's doors and turned out great.

 

[chappers]

My man always tells me to take out any glass as the caustic eats the putty, and the heat might affect it too, in the case of leaded glass I would expect the lead to discolour and maybe even get eaten away itself.