Any tips on restoring a banister with spindles..
Discussion
... back to the original wood?
I'm currently redoing my HS&L and her indoors has decided the banister is to lose the gloss paint look and go back to it's natural wood and varnished.. So any quick tips on removing the paint, I've removed most of the Gloss with Nitromores but the water based undercoat is a PITA, I've spent the whole day with sanders etc and have only 6 of 30 spindles looking ready to varnish apart from the intricate bits which are still white, any thoughts or tips greatly appreciated.
TIA
Matt
I'm currently redoing my HS&L and her indoors has decided the banister is to lose the gloss paint look and go back to it's natural wood and varnished.. So any quick tips on removing the paint, I've removed most of the Gloss with Nitromores but the water based undercoat is a PITA, I've spent the whole day with sanders etc and have only 6 of 30 spindles looking ready to varnish apart from the intricate bits which are still white, any thoughts or tips greatly appreciated.
TIA
Matt
I did mine with wire wool dipped in nitromors/paint thinner. it took me 3 months to restore the whole staircase (it won't take you this long, I mean rebuilding, stripping and sanding) and then the people I rented the house to painted it with white gloss the first week they were in.
They left a few months later and took the kitchen, anyhow I digress, yes wire wool dipped in the above, works like a charm.
They left a few months later and took the kitchen, anyhow I digress, yes wire wool dipped in the above, works like a charm.
shirt the real wood look will go well with the karndean wood effect in the hall as there's too much white wood in my Other halfs opinion!
I'll try the wire wool with nitromores tomorrow as I feel like a burst ball tonight! I thought holidays were meant to be fun too, meh, thanx for your replies though
When at work I look forward to holidays/time off, when I've got time off I look forward to being at work! I just can't win!
I'll try the wire wool with nitromores tomorrow as I feel like a burst ball tonight! I thought holidays were meant to be fun too, meh, thanx for your replies though
When at work I look forward to holidays/time off, when I've got time off I look forward to being at work! I just can't win!
The wire wool works like a hot air gun, it is fantastic as it doens't harm the wood yet strips the wood quite fast.
Wear gloves and put some paper where it might drop and remember to wash down any wood after as painting over dried paint stripper will bubble like mad.
Good luck with it.
Wear gloves and put some paper where it might drop and remember to wash down any wood after as painting over dried paint stripper will bubble like mad.
Good luck with it.
Edited by Sheets Tabuer on Thursday 12th August 02:33
You did better then me. I got 4 spindles done before I took a saw to the whole lot and bought this stuff:
http://www.richardburbidge.com/stair-balustrade/co...
http://www.richardburbidge.com/stair-balustrade/co...
dipping will be the fastest way to do this, if they are pine it'll be straight forward, if this is hard wood. then you'll need to know that chap doing the dipping is good, hard woods can change colour noticeably when dipped.
doing the work in situ will take a long long time, you could try a scarsden scraper, but for the fiddly bits on a mahogany fire place surround I resorted to using cocktail sticks, had to be nitromors as mahogany turns almost purple in hot dip caustic.
If you want some advice you could try your local antique reclamation yard
doing the work in situ will take a long long time, you could try a scarsden scraper, but for the fiddly bits on a mahogany fire place surround I resorted to using cocktail sticks, had to be nitromors as mahogany turns almost purple in hot dip caustic.
If you want some advice you could try your local antique reclamation yard
Thanx for all the replies, much appreciated
I have thought about replacing the spindles, but SWMBO is insisting it can be done, the square bits and the cylindrical centre bit are easy enough, but the little ball bits are a ballache, I thought about varnishing the rest and painting the ball bits silver or something but not sure if it would look odd.
I've got eye protection on being a natural specky and got latex gloves but my fingers keep popping through them.
Fatboy that banister looks stunning
I have thought about replacing the spindles, but SWMBO is insisting it can be done, the square bits and the cylindrical centre bit are easy enough, but the little ball bits are a ballache, I thought about varnishing the rest and painting the ball bits silver or something but not sure if it would look odd.
I've got eye protection on being a natural specky and got latex gloves but my fingers keep popping through them.
Fatboy that banister looks stunning
Matt Black said:
Thanx for all the replies, much appreciated
I have thought about replacing the spindles, but SWMBO is insisting it can be done, the square bits and the cylindrical centre bit are easy enough, but the little ball bits are a ballache, I thought about varnishing the rest and painting the ball bits silver or something but not sure if it would look odd.
I've got eye protection on being a natural specky and got latex gloves but my fingers keep popping through them.
Fatboy that banister looks stunning
you need to get yourself a pair of rubber gauntlets - most good DIY / builders supply should stock them.I have thought about replacing the spindles, but SWMBO is insisting it can be done, the square bits and the cylindrical centre bit are easy enough, but the little ball bits are a ballache, I thought about varnishing the rest and painting the ball bits silver or something but not sure if it would look odd.
I've got eye protection on being a natural specky and got latex gloves but my fingers keep popping through them.
Fatboy that banister looks stunning
http://www.google.co.uk/products?hl=en&q=rubbe...
Matt Black said:
Thanx for all the replies, much appreciated
I have thought about replacing the spindles, but SWMBO is insisting it can be done, the square bits and the cylindrical centre bit are easy enough, but the little ball bits are a ballache, I thought about varnishing the rest and painting the ball bits silver or something but not sure if it would look odd.
I've got eye protection on being a natural specky and got latex gloves but my fingers keep popping through them.
Fatboy that banister looks stunning
Find a furniture restoration place near you, odds are they'll have a triclorate tank, (assuming they're still legal) and dip them for a fee.I have thought about replacing the spindles, but SWMBO is insisting it can be done, the square bits and the cylindrical centre bit are easy enough, but the little ball bits are a ballache, I thought about varnishing the rest and painting the ball bits silver or something but not sure if it would look odd.
I've got eye protection on being a natural specky and got latex gloves but my fingers keep popping through them.
Fatboy that banister looks stunning
For the spindles see if you can borrow a lathe (little one should be enough) and sand the remaining dirt and paint on the lathe.
Matt Black said:
Thanx for all the replies, much appreciated
I have thought about replacing the spindles, but SWMBO is insisting it can be done, the square bits and the cylindrical centre bit are easy enough, but the little ball bits are a ballache, I thought about varnishing the rest and painting the ball bits silver or something but not sure if it would look odd.
I've got eye protection on being a natural specky and got latex gloves but my fingers keep popping through them.
Fatboy that banister looks stunning
Just to clarify - that's not a pic of mine, but it is the same as in that pic. I have thought about replacing the spindles, but SWMBO is insisting it can be done, the square bits and the cylindrical centre bit are easy enough, but the little ball bits are a ballache, I thought about varnishing the rest and painting the ball bits silver or something but not sure if it would look odd.
I've got eye protection on being a natural specky and got latex gloves but my fingers keep popping through them.
Fatboy that banister looks stunning
It cost me about £700 and a couple of days work. Looks fantastic - and no painting required, other than the existing stairway sides.
Edited by fatboy b on Thursday 12th August 15:00
Having removed some paint it seems the top handrail is nailed (Pasload(sp)) on from underneath next to every spindle, So looks like It'll be a nightmare to dismantle I'm gonna persevere with Nitromores and sanders, were getting on pretty well TBH, there only seems to be 2 coats of gloss and 1 undercoat, those little Mouse sanders are great
Cheers
Matt
Cheers
Matt
Matt Black said:
Having removed some paint it seems the top handrail is nailed (Pasload(sp)) on from underneath next to every spindle, So looks like It'll be a nightmare to dismantle I'm gonna persevere with Nitromores and sanders, were getting on pretty well TBH, there only seems to be 2 coats of gloss and 1 undercoat, those little Mouse sanders are great
Cheers
Matt
It shouldnt be the handrail that is nailed on , just the spacers between the spindles that will have a light fixing , once you get one out it shouldnt be toooooo difficult Cheers
Matt
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