Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/Refinishing Staircase

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Expert: - 1/16/2012


Question
HI Greg, currently I am stripping my 100 year old staircase. The project is going well and the end is now in sight. My question is : now that most of the paint has been removed, how would you deal the areas where the paint has gotten into small dents? I used a wire brush and steal wool with a bit of luck, but feel as if I'm missing a technique that the pros would use. I'm thinking about using wood filler to level these small imperfections followed by some light sanding. What do you think?
Thanks much,
Tim

Answer
Hey Tim...I don't think you're missing any techniques....especially on a 100 year old staircase...persistence is the key, and letting the stripper do most of the job. I have an assortment of dental picks, crab picks, and other tools for digging paint out of areas like you describe, the key is making sure the stripper has softened the paint completely. I also would caution you about metal brushes, and recommend instead a non metal, stiff scrub brush.Filler would also negate having to do a perfect job of removing all the paint, but if you're staining and clear finishing, then you do have to do a better job. A good latex filler like Elmers Carpenters wood filler will be fine, just don't over apply it, because you have to sand off the excess. A good random orbital sander will do a good job,followed by scrutiny and perhaps some hand sanding... and then a Gel stain followed by a few coats of polyurethane will give you years of beauty and protection.Feel free to post back- regards- Greg

Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks

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Greg Scholl

Expertise

Questions on Woodworking, wood finishing and refinishing of all kinds, repairing furniture and wooden objects, Architectural details, Woodturning, carving, tool usage, product usage, some chemistry as it applies to woodworking and related interests,cabinet making and furniture construction/design, etc. I have experience with all manners of colorants, finishes, paints, stains, dyes, glazes, and coatings, wood species recognition and usage,tool recommendations, blade types and recommendation,techniques and methods for many Woodworking related issues, etc.

Experience

Fine furniture restorer and cabinet maker for over 30 years,serving high end Antique dealers, Interior designers, Collectors in the CT area. Consulting for area Painting/Decorating and Building contractors on non painting issues..(staining, wood prep.,clear finishing, floor restoration and architectural detail restoration and repair, etc.) Sold, built, serviced, setup Home, Industrial, and Commercial stationary woodworking tools for a major tool retailer in CT. for three years, sold hand and power tools , provided knowledge, parts replacement, service, and on site service, Trade show Demo, and training as well.

Publications
Published in Fine Woodworking Magazine (12/97), included on Fine Woodworkings first "Best of Fine Woodworking" CD-ROM (2002) ...("27 year compilation of expert know-how")

Education/Credentials
Art School at Silvermine Guild in Norwalk, CT., 9 year apprenticeship in a European run Cabinet and Restoration shop in CT., various classes on subjects having to do with the field. Seminars from major Tool manufacturers, Skil/Bosch, Delta, Powermatic, Ritter, Porter cable, Milwaukee, Dewalt/B&Decker, Performax.

Past/Present Clients
Many varied clients including work on Martha Stewarts' Westport, CT. show house, many fine Antique dealers and private collectors in and around Fairfield County and in Woodbury, CT. (the Antiques capital of CT.), Golden Age of Trucking Museum, Wilton Historical Society.

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