AboutBruce W. Zubee Expertise I can answer any questions regarding antique carousel horses, menagerie figures and any type of carousel component. I can also answer questions regarding other antique wooden horses.
Experience Over thirty years experience in the restoration, sale and appraisal of antique carousel figures other carousel components and related items
Organizations National Carousel Assn.
Publications www.carousels.com, Carousel Times Magazine
Currently Editor/Publisher of Carousels.com and CarouselStores.com Consultant to the New England Carousel Museum
Expert: Bruce W. Zubee Date: 1/7/2007 Subject: Stripping and refinishing
Question Hi,
For many years I have wanted a carousel horse just to admire. Last year while walking through an antique shop I found one and bought it. It is chipped and worn badly. It is cast in heavy duty polyresin (polyethylene). I asked if it could be sand or water blasted but the gentleman that owned the company did not want to take a chance. Since then my husband has been "slowly" picking away at it using a heat gun and small blade. I had hopes of getting this stripped and painted so I could show it off. I am so proud of it but now it seems impossible. What would you suggest we do? I live in Canada and have been trying to find someone that could do it for me.
Answer Without knowing the exact material this horse is made of, I'd hesitate to suggest a stripping method. There are some good chemical strippers on the market but depending upon what your horse is made of , the chemical could actually melt the horse. Sand blasting is never the way to go, regardless of the composition of the horse. Even metal horses are damaged beyond repair with this process.
You may want to try one of the citrus-based strippers. They don't work very fast and it may cost you a small fortune for enough stripper to do the entire horse but that's the only thing I would recommend with the limited knowledge I have of your horse.
I know this isn't much help.
Bruce Zubee
Publisher
Carousels.com
CarouselStores.com
bruce@carousels.com
