Stripping paint off wood

~Chameleon~

I've just started the arduous task of stripping all the paint off the woodwork in the hall, stairs and landing but need some advice before I go any further please.

I've started on one door and taken off two layers of paint to find some old dark brown stain/varnish(?) beneath. So far I've only used a heat gun but have also bought some chemical wood stripper and wire wool to use.

Is it worth me persevering with this, and am I likely to get it all off using the methods above or should I look to having them professionally dipped/stripped?

Replacing them isn't an option as they're the old 4 panel variety in very odd sizes (no two doors are the same size but average is 31 3/4" x 78 3/4") so would cost a fortune to have them made for me, unfortunately

I'm hoping the architraves/skirting etc won't have this varnish stuff on it too! :rolleyes:

weegie_2

Hiya

See you haven't had a response to this yet. Unfortunately I don't know the answer but we've also started stripping paint off the woodwork in our living/dining room with a heat gun. We then sanded a bit to see what it would look like and it has given us the incentive to keep going. It will look lovely but boy is it hard work!! Hope you find the answer to the varnish problem....

nickj_2

you can get them dipped from around 15 - 20 per door , the varnish is likely to be on frames and skirting , it will come off with the methods you are using , if you are using nitromors be extremely careful as the vapours /fumes are v dangerous , you can get a water based stripper , i've not used it so i can't say if it is any good , go to your local building supplier and see what they've got

~Chameleon~

Thanks. Well, I decided to have a go at the architrave alongside the door, and yep, that also has this awful very dark brown (almost black) varnish type stuff on it too

It doesn't look like any sort of ordinary varnish that one would use nowadays, and without investigating further with the chemical stripper, I've a feeling the wood will be stained too much to get it back to anything like natural wood colour.

The house is quite old, and previous owners were elderly and still living in the 70's judging by the decor lol They'd even boxed in the spindles on the banister, which I discovered on ripping off the hardboard panels, so I'm hoping to restore those back to original too.

Here's a pic I just took of the door to show you what I mean ...



This is the entire door ...



Beginning to wish I'd just ripped out all the woodwork now before plastering and replaced with new stuff. Hindsight is a wonderful thing lol :rolleyes:

yellowmonkey

If time is a factor them it is quicker and easier to have the doors dipped. As for the brown varnish you will also find this on the skirting as well as this was used in the old days. Get what you can off with the heat gun and then it is a matter of using the chemical solution and then scraping off and then go over again with solution and the wire wool. Be warned it is a messy job but will look nice in the end. The brown varnish will not have stained the wood and it will come up OK.
If it is any consulation the wood used in older house's is, usually, very good quality.

Good luck

ym

~Chameleon~

Thanks for the advice, preliminary results certainly look promising! :j

This is after just one application of chemical stripper and scraping off with a shaving tool ...



I'm sure once it's had another application with some wire wool (would I be better getting some coarse wool for this, as I've only got the fine stuff atm?) and then sanded over it will come up lovely!

It's going to be a long tedious job so I might see if I can find someone local to dip the doors for me, otherwise I'll be at this for weeks lol :rolleyes:

~Chameleon~

nickj wrote: »

if you are using nitromors be extremely careful as the vapours /fumes are v dangerous , you can get a water based stripper ,

The stripper I've got is water-based - Homebase own brand paint and varnish stripper. I've used Nitromors in the past and it made me feel quite ill from the fumes so didn't want to risk using it again for such a large job, but thanks for the warning

yoshef

~Chameleon~ wrote: »

The stripper I've got is water-based - Homebase own brand paint and varnish stripper. I've used Nitromors in the past and it made me feel quite ill from the fumes so didn't want to risk using it again for such a large job, but thanks for the warning

Hi there,

Im doing exactly the same thing as yourself - stripping hall stairs and landing with heat gun - Just a little note- I've been warned off having the doors dipped as a friend had theirs done and it weakened all the joints, so I'm going to carry on with the heat gun myself. Besides I've just stripped all the spindles on the banister so I'm looking forward to those nice flat door surfaces :rotfl:

roses

I can recommend these people if you are based in London for door stripping, they collected 9 doors & I got them back after 2 days:

http://www.doorstripping.com/

My doors looked just like yours & came back looking gorgeous

pbp_2

Hi. I came accross this section and I know that you have probably finished your work but would be interested to know a few things. I have been removing paint from houses for many many years as I used to restore houses for a living.

I have come accross this finish many times and it is a bit of a pain to remove. It is either the original varnish or a scumble glaze which they used to use years ago to give a wood grain effect.

Firstly NEVER use a heat gun to remove old paint. If the old paint contains lead the heat gun will produce fumes that can be very dangerous to you and anyone in the area. Also using Nitromors or any other solvent type products is a big NO NO! it contains a chemical which i have been told can cause cancer.

There are other safer products on the market for removing paint and varnish just as good, but safer and I came accross a fantastic product called HOME STRIP which I found in Focus do it all. It is totally safe, no fumes and no nasty skin burns. I have now been using this product for over two years now and would never go back to heat guns or any nasty solvent based strippers.

Diy in the home is never the easiest thing to carry out especially when you have a family. I have even got the kids helping me out it is so safe, and I never thought I would say this, but diy has now become an enjoyable chore.

ormus

i did the very same thing a few yrs ago in my present house. i burnt off every bit of wood work in the house. im sure every layer of paint was there since 1935!
the stairs were a nightmare. i thought id never finish it!

just keep going doing a bit every day. the results are worth it in the end.
we are really pleased with the stairs now. we stained them in mahogony.