About a 3rd of the DFir woodwork in my own house has it’s original warm, dark gold clear finish. The rest is painted… 1930 House.
A fellow who was over thought it was a shellac finish and claimed I could bring the old beat-up staircase back to life by rubbing it with denatured acohol. I read this to be true by searching this site.
The alcohol doesn’t really move it around much, at least at first go witha clean rag, so I wonder. Could be too old? Need more elbow grease? Scotchbrite?
Or is it varnish?
A heat gun (thankfully) will cause that orginal finish to bubble under all 6 layers of paint which then come off in sheets. (respirator and ventilated) Also, what would be suggested to remove the rest of the paint residue after the initial heating. While it’s still hot you can swipe it with a rag or scotchbrite right down clean to the original finish, but that’s a lot of rags and scotchbrite!
Will the shellac bubble like that too or is it varnish?
Can I get some tips on positively identifying this finish and how to repair it or possibly blend it consistent with itself without stripping?
Thanks,
Pat
Replies
Sounds like varnish... alcohol would definitely have "moved it around" if it were shellac and it was given enough time to soak a bit.
Typical procedure with the heat gun is to use a putty knife or similar to raise the paint as you go. The varnish will also be vulnerable to the heat at some level.
I'm not sure exactly what you're trying to accomplish with the stairs - bring it to life or match the rest of the house. Frankly, once you're done removing the paint with the gun et al, you'll probably need to sand and recoat at a minimum. The warm tones of the old finish can be matched with stain, but the two will continue to age at different rates over time. My recommendation is to resign yourself to stripping it down pretty far as inevitably that's where you'll probably end up.
Sorry, but there will likely be no easy fix here.
Thanks..
The stairs are not painted, (thank the lord) but beat up, nicked up, weathered and worn. If I can blend it all cohesive that may be the 'low effort / high reward' scenario.
But, alas, if only the 'high effort / high reward' scenario is it, I'm resigned to that.
But, never the 'high effort / low reward' scenario.
Right.
If you want a fast low effort way to clean up old bright work, buy a small can of briwax light brown and a piece of 0000 steel wool. Try a small patch, if it works for you , then youv'e saved yourself a bundle of work . If not you're going to have to strip down not my most favorite kind of work. Only use the original formula, not the tolulene free.