I found the original front doors to my 1872 Greek Revival and have started the process to restore them. I’ve got the paint off and am regluing the loose mortise and tenon joints. Most of the old trim is intact but showing some signs of water damage. I’d like to reuse it but think it should be treated to stabilize it before I put it back on the doors. Once on, I’ll use an oil paint on the whole assembly.
I’m thinking shellac or an exterior poly would penetrate but is too brittle. Paint has too much build up and some of this will have to be glued. Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Norse
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I'd coat all unprimed/unpainted areas with linseed oil mixed with a little paint thinner. This will penetrate better than poly soak into the wood,and is fully compatible.
lots of super glue..works great. Get it at the dollar store, a bunch for cheap. Let it soak in the worst areas and lightly mist it with a spray of water, or if ya are serious about it get the accelerater spray from http://www.stewmac.com
zip kicker is what I call it, sets it up rock hard right quick.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations.
You are really asking two questions. the first one should probably... no deffinatly be posted over in Knots (the woodworking side of things), but let me try.
Most of the old trim is intact but showing some signs of water damage. I'd like to reuse it but think it should be treated to stabilize it before I put it back on the doors
There is wood stabilizer that I have used before, it is an acrylic polymer that when mixed up with water is real thin and watery... you put it on (lots) and let the wood soak it up for the first bunch of steps. Sand than fill any low / rotted / missing spots with a thicker mix let harden, sand, prime then paint. it makes the wood nice and stiff. I also seem to recall a system based on a thin epoxy, it might work better... I don't know, havn't used it before.
link to a product like this... but you could find others with a quick google on wood stabilizers http://miva3.synergydns.net/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=packard&Category_Code=woodprep-poly
Once on, I'll use an oil paint on the whole assembly.
I'm thinking shellac or an exterior poly would penetrate but is too brittle.
If your going to paint it, yes I would use a heavy duty Oil based paint...
Shellac doesn't really belong on anything that goes outside. If your trying to stain this door a Marine Urathane with UV protection would be best...
Paint has too much build up
if the paint on the door is too thick... use a heat gun and strip it...
I don't understand where you are going with the "and some of this will have to be glued"
Thanks for all the great ideas!
An architect friend recommended Abatron Liquid Wood (thinned as necessary) as well as their thicker Wood Epox. http://www.abatron.com/home002.htm
They are a bit expensive but so are other epoxies.
The doors are 1872 vintage as is the house. The doors have an oval lite with trim and a lower panel (a very wide board by today's standards). What I meant about gluing is that when I put the trim back on, I will glue it to the door's stiles (keep the glue off the floating panel). At this point, all the paint is removed. My remark about not wanting to use paint because of the buildup was in thinking of what to seal the back surfaces of the trim with.
I can't believe the number of hours I've got into this pair of doors. However, when we bought the house a few years ago, the former owners had "updated" it in the 1970's and had stripped most of the original interior trim and had replaced the front doors and transom with a cheap POS. Only the walnut staircase remained. So I guess this is a labor of love .. or historic guilt.....
Thanks again,
Norse