How to sand spindles on staircase?

1399steve

Hi all, I'm in the process of decorating my hall and stairs and am struggling to find an effective method of sanding the spindles on my staircase before re-painting them.

Tried a variety of different sanders and papers but finding it very difficult to get into the detailed bits and grooves in the woodwork. Anyone got any tips?

ormus

if youre just repainting then do the best you can with the sandpaper.
i had to completely remove the paint as i was getting it back to bare wood for staining.
took me all week!
hot air gun, and sanding. if you have any detail work in the wood then its even harder. i had to use various homemade tools, to scrape the paint off. then sand again.

Ebe_Scrooge

The very best of luck to you, it's a horrible job. As Ormus said, if you're repainting then you don't need to be too fussy. If you do need to get it all off, then you could try Nitromoors paint stripper. It's still a fiddle as you paint it on then scrape it off, but it does soften the paint quite effectively. But please be careful, it really is pretty nasty stuff - I was a bit lax when I first used it, and got some rather sore burns on my hands at times. But as long as you're sensible, it's quite good at doing what it says on the tin.

nickj_2

Ebe_Scrooge wrote: »

The very best of luck to you, it's a horrible job. As Ormus said, if you're repainting then you don't need to be too fussy. If you do need to get it all off, then you could try Nitromoors paint stripper.

this is not a good idea , nitromors should not be used under any circumstances indoors as it gives off a lot of vapours - which if inhaled can cause harm .
you can get a liquid sander which you brush on leave and then wipe off ,

t_obermory

I've used Nitromors and yes it stinks but it does do the job very effectively and as long as you're well ventilated it's fine.

I imagine even using paint stripper it'd still be a pain to get the paint out of all the grooves though. If you want the easiest option I'd key the surfaces and just paint over them.

ormus

all chemical stripers are nasty indoors, esp nitromors.
i wont use it indoors cause of the mess, never mind the health issues.
there are other water based strippers which are much kinder to the user.
but i still prefer to use the hot air gun.
good luck. its not the best diy job to be doing.

OddjobKIA

This is a reall MSE tip now so everybody listen....

GEt some sand from your local beach ( or a handfull of sharp sand from a builders merchant)...

next a piece of leather pour a little sand onto the leather shiny side.. then use this to sand piece of wood...the shape of your hand and the suppleness of the leather gets into evey knock dent and carved bit...

very good for sanding whittled pieces or delecate pieces as sand paper can damage or groove the piece of wood....

YES I KNOW SAND PAPER IS NOT MADE OF SAND BUT GLASS BUT POWDERED GLASS IS VERY HARD TO GET HOLD OF AND DANGEROUS

ailuro2

But I though you weren't meant to take sand from the beach???

Ask for some at the local buidling site.

Or do what I'd do and use emery paper, it's more flexible and won't tear so easily., tear it into thin strips and pull each end of it alternately - it leaves it nice and round too!! It's what fitters/engineers use to buff up the finsih on round shafts that have been a bit damaged.;)

OddjobKIA

ailuro2 wrote: »

But I though you weren't meant to take sand from the beach???

Ask for some at the local buidling site.

.;)

I meant only the stuff that collectas in your shoes etc etc;)

Pyewacket338

Get some course wire wool (it comes in 3 grades) wear a good strong pair of gloves and take the rough surface off the old paint, you shouldn't have to take it back to bare wood to re-paint it.

Plasticman

Are they really bad? I would just sand to take any lump and bumps off and then paint over the top. If they are really rough (or you want to stain) then I would probably end up buying new ones! Not very money saving, but the thought of sanding them all back to wood (especially if they are shaped) would drive me up the wall!!