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Nail polish remover worked for us!

A chemical paint thinner shouldn't hurt the glass at all but I'd definitely test it on a teeny bit of the metal. It might take a couple of applications, but that will definitely remove the paint.

A razor blade and oodles of patience should do the trick. Although if you've got that wavy/bumpy stained glass, you might need some kind of solvent. I always start with Goo Gone. It's not going to do any damage and it smells yummy. If it doesn't work, then call a stained glass store in town and ask what they suggest in the way of paint removers.

Yes, polish remover is working. Great tip, KoopKan!

Stained Glass windows are so delicate...
...solvents could ruin the colored glass panes and the leadwork is so soft that it could be easily destroyed by scraping.

The only way I'd suggest you take on this job yourself is of you take some classes at the local learning center, invest in the proper tools and set up a shop at home to do the job right. If this isn't your interest or you don't have the time to devote to this, I would urge you to Not attempt the job of restoration yourself...
...Pick up the phone and spend the money to call in a professional stained glass artisan who is experienced at restorations to come in, remove the windows and do a complete restoration at their shop.

In addition, this is probably the only glass in these openings that are separating you from the outside (I'm guessing that the paint was a way cheap DIY to "seal" the glass and prevent drafts) You need to seriously consider replacing the entire window unit with an insulated double-paned unit and having the stained glass window frame reconfigured as a decorative panel for the interior side of the new window.

Whenever you use a razor blade on glass, be sure to keep the glass wet or you could scratch it. I'd start with glass cleaner and a blade first before I moved on to any solvents.

Lindsey, I don't have any suggestions for removing that icky paint, but please post an 'after' picture when you're done. I'm dying to see that window in it's natural state.

Good luck and congrats on your new home!

I've made stained glass, and if you have the real thing (individual pieces of glass with leading in between, not a sticker on glass) you're not going to damage the glass with paint remover. BUT ... don't press too hard. You could dislodge a piece of the glass, and it's a major pain to put it back.

before all that work, i'd want to know why they were painted in the first place.

I am the lead designer at one of the largest stained glass studios in Seattle, and we do plenty of restorations to windows just like this. Chemical paint thinner/stripper is fine, and won't damage the lead came. If further attention is needed a fine steel wool and a little elbow grease will go a long way, and it won't scratch. Be careful with razor blades, they WILL scratch. Make sure not to push too hard on the window as you can bow it out or break individual panes. Usually we remove the windows to perform this task so that they can be laid flat on a table...if you need to remove the window it's probably glazed from the exterior with putty, which will be rock hard. You can carefully chip away the old putty, and any local stained glass supply should carry or be able to direct you to glazing putty for re-installation. An internet search of "how to glaze a window" helps too. Our studio uses the DAP brand. Make sure to wash your hands thoroughly after handling the window, as the metal is pure lead. Also, when in doubt, call a professional.

Johnp,

They were probably painted by someone in the 60s or 70s who thought they made their old house look "dated." When I had part of a three-flat in Chicago the lady next door, who had a similar building all to herself, told me that her mom had paneled over all the stained glass and stripped out architectural features decades earlier because it was impossible to get a "modern" look without doing something drastic.

People (landlords) with those power paint sprayers do this when they are too lazy to tape off glass!!

In one apt I rented, they sprayed over the beautiful paned glass cabinets in the dining room. I used a razor blade to peel it all off.

In another building I lived in... some apartments still had the original textured glass on the kitchen cabinets (with texture on the inside - obviously-or the texture would be hard to clean) and Some dope painted over it because - again... taping off something so fabulous would be too much work.

Then a different dope moved in and decided he needed a calendar nailed to the cabinet door - not realizing it was antique glass - and bingo -- whole thing ruined!!

try looking into Soygel. Its a nontoxic paint stripper which was the ONLY stuff that actually got off the paint off an antique chandelier I was working on. PLUS I didnt need a gas mask. Its popular with stripping wood floors as well.

Try using a commercial grade heat gun on it. It should soften the paint enough that most of it should pull off (be sure to wear gloves! It'll be hot) and then maybe a product like Goof Off for the little bits that stick in the grooves of the lead. Take lots of time and patience, and you should be satisfied with the results!

I was successful using nail polish remover and elbow grease on a textured glass pane. No razor blades! I cannot remember if I used acetone free or not. Good luck.

I suspect the best (and probably easiest) way would be with a wide razor blade - I wouldn't want to use chemicals on the window. My parents just had a door with painted mirror panels redone, I can ask their contractor if a good solution doesn't arrive.

At least you still have the windows (though sometimes, they are just simply walled up intact behind wood and plaster/gypsum board).

Maybe you can try a product (or something similar) called Peel-a-way. I ran across this in my search for a product to remove paint from my exposed brick wall. Haven't actually tried it, but it looked promising. There are several different formulations so you need to figure out what kind of paint you're dealing with (latex, oil-based, etc.).

http://www.peelaway.com/html/peelaway.htm

available at home depot: http://www.goof-off.com/

i just used this for errant paint removal ALL OVER my condo. i have no idea what's in it, but it functions like a high octane acetone. smudged off everything i attacked it with, including some frosted spray-paint that was used on a bathroom window.

i will never again be without this product in my house. ever.

DO NOT USE A HEAT GUN! You will definitely soften the lead and the solder and you will end up with a pile of glass and lead scraps.