Expert: Eileen Cronk - 11/17/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hi,

I just read your instructions for stripping cabinets with Circa 1850. I followed them but have more questions:

I have a paneled front door that I am trying to strip. The paint is quite thick and quite old. I did an initial layer of remover and scraping, but only one layer at a time seems to be coming off... is this normal? It doesnt seem strong enough. Or is it that the paint is so old (100yrs??) and so thick it is a tough job?

Most of the paint that is coming off is more from elbow grease than stripper...

thanks,
Kelly


ANSWER: Hi Kelly
Nice to hear from you.
Are you keeping the stripper wet? Are you giving the stripper time to work?
This stripper is the strongest we can buy but multiple coats of paint are the worst to remove.
A heat gun works best for this. You can remove 90% of the paint with a heat gun and the residue with stripper. Its still elbow grease but it does speed things but the danger of burning the wood is always present so these guns need a bit of experience to use.
And yes, what you are experiencing is normal. It often happens that the old paint will only come off one coat at a time. Just keep in mind this is the worse type of stripping there is.
The good side is you only have one door to do LOL.
I once worked on a restoration where we had 9 of these doors to strip.
It took two of us a week to complete....never want to repeat that.
Great question.
Regards
Eileen




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

QUESTION: Hi Again,

I have given up!! It is just not coming off and I do not have the time or patience to do it.

I thought I had found someone I could pay to take over, but now he's not answering his phone!

So back to plan A- paint the sucker! -- but how do i prep it and get the remnants of the circa goop off it, so the paint will stick?

thanks!
Kelly

Answer
Hi Kelly
Oh what a dilemma you have.
Is this door off the hinges and lying flat?
You just cannot do this type of work on a vertical surface.
So get it off, up on sawhorses OUTDOORS and start sanding if all the goop and paint is dry.
I really hate to see you give up the stripping but I understand if you don't have the time.
Have you looked in your area for anyone who does "dip stripping".
The piece we want stripped is placed in a vat and soaked.

http://dipstrip.com/process.html

Kelly please keep me posted on this.
Wish I lived close by I would come and help.

Regards
Eileen