Expert: Eileen Cronk - 4/1/2004

Question
-------------------------
Followup To
Question -
Hello,
I have an old seamens chest from my great-grandfather's lighthouse keeper days. He used it between the years of 1909 and 1940. I do not know what year the chest was made. It is made of pine I believe, and it has a coat of paint on it. The paint is old and there are other paint stains on if that came from sitting for years in various basements. Will I wreck it if I refinish it or should I leave it as is. If I do refinish it what should I use to take the old paint off. Someone has advised me to repaint it with Marine paint. I don't know what the value of the chest is but I could use some advice as to how to get the chest to look nice. Or..........should I enjoy it in its weathered, stained, state?

Thank you
Answer -
Hi Jenni
Nice to hear from you.
Your chest sounds wonderful.
It would be nice if you could remove the paint stains that have accumulated. I will take a guess and say it is probably oil paint that has been spattered on this chest.
In the original state (with no spatters), you would never remove the original paint. And I cannot recommend you attempt removing the stains because you will remove the underlying paint as well...it can be done, but this is a job for a pro.
My question to you is..do you want to live with the chest as it is?
Personally I would prefer stripping and refinishing if it was mine, and if I never wanted to sell it.
Also try to get some more info on it if you can.
If it was used in 1909, it could be a lot older than that, and perhaps have some value.
Hope this helps
Regards
Eileen

Thanks Eileen,

If I did strip it what product would you recommmend. I am going to find out more about it before I do anything as you advised. I am going to keep it though!  

Answer
Hi again Jenni
I just use my hardware store house brand paint stripper...its the cheapest.
No need for those fancy expensive strippers...they all do the same thing.
Also I am enclosing a link to a site you may find interesting.
Please do not hesitate to get back to me if you need further help.
Heres the link
http://www.brettunsvillage.com/trunks/

Good Luck
Eileen