Expert: Eileen Cronk - 1/9/2009

Question
QUESTION: I own a 1924 Craftsman bungalow, when we bought the place the woodwork had 10+ layers of paint, most of them lead paint. Using an infrared stripper we've removed the paint from all of the woodwork. Then I used Formby's furniture refinisher to remove remaining paint and the old finish. Now what do I do? I'd love for it to look like it once did, dark and shiny but I don't know how to go about it. Should I restain and then refinish? If so how and what do I use to do that? The wood looks great and the color is good but I like the really dark look that it was originally. Where do I go from here?
Thanks!

ANSWER: Hi Jamie
Nice to hear from you.
My gosh what a job it must have been removing all that paint.
My hat goes off to you.
Jamie where you go from here depends on the type of wood and if it will take this dark stain you desire.
It sounds to me like the stripped wood is fairly light now..correct?
There is only one way to get your desired color and thats by some testing.
It would be wonderful if all your woodwork was oak.
Oak from 1924 will take a dark stain pretty well I feel.
So I would start by trying Minwax oil stain in dark walnut color.
Its a pretty dark color but it sounds like what you want.
If you find its a bit too dark, try Minwax in Special Walnut color.
Just get the tiny cans for your testing.
And mixing the two colors together can be done for a color in between.
The shiny finish you desire will be easy.
Minwax fast drying poly in a gloss is a great product.
Also think about using a wipe on poly. This will be easier to apply and easier to control the drips and runs.
If you can ID the wood will you get back to me.
You may be into something else entirely so its important to know.
Kind Regards
Eileen



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks Eileen! It's been a big job and its taken almost 2 years to strip the entire house, but what's a craftsman without all that beautiful wood! I'm not 100% about the type of wood but I'm pretty sure its pine. I also have one other follow up question. It's difficult to remove all the paint from the corners and cracks of the woodwork, but I've done a pretty good job of getting most of it. Would a stain cover those spots or should I continue to work at them to remove the paint that has gotten in between the joints of the wood? Thanks for your help, I appreciate it!

Answer
Hi Again Jamie.
Pine is a softwood and a pretty easy way to tell if your trim is softwood is by indenting with your fingernail. Softwood dents really easily. If its hardwood its not so easy.
If you have pine, it will take a stain very well.
Removing this last bit of paint can be difficult. Are you using an MC gel stripper? The gel stays where you apply it and does not dry out as fast so it works better.
A small wire brush (looks like a toothbrush), is ideal in these miserable areas.
A while back I helped with a similar job. There where areas that we could not get the paint out.
Fairly easy to camouflage though.
We used an opaque stain and a small artists brush and painted over any paint that could not be removed...perfect solution.
Opaque oil based stain is what to ask for. You will want a dark color to match your dark stain. The opaque stain will be applied after you stain all the wood and before you apply the top coat.
Good Luck
Eileen