Stripping Wood
We have been stripping our Wood Spindles/Moldings using the chemical stripper, scrapers, and steel wool for what seems like an eternity. Does anyone know a place where we can send them, and possibly all of our moldings, to be “dipped� Does anyone advise against doing this?
We have been stripping our Wood Spindles/Moldings using the chemical stripper, scrapers, and steel wool for what seems like an eternity. Does anyone know a place where we can send them, and possibly all of our moldings, to be “dipped� Does anyone advise against doing this?
Ken – Peel away is not for mere mortals. I tried it after some people on Bstoner recommended it and was AMAZED at how messy, difficult, smelly, slow and agonizing it was. It really turned me off to attempting a lot of projects on my own and definitely off stripping. After I spent hours trying to get that goop off a window frame, I finally hired someone to come in with some paint stripper and finish the job. The most heartbreaking part was that after all that, I discovered there was some kind of weird primer on the window frame that wasn’t coming off anyway and had to paint the damn thing. If you can get to the archive here, you’ll see some posts about stripping. Someone made the very precient comment about how a lot of old brownstones used wood for frames that were meant to be painted so it isn’t the highest quality anyway. Just another perspective.
The problem with dipping is that everything has to be unassembled, and then reassembled…a very costly (and messy) job.
I’ve done a LOT of stripping, using just about everything on the market. I strongly reccomend Peel-Away 6 or 7, and use the paper that goes with it. Go to Dumond Chemical on-line, or try a good paint store…Janovic, in Manhattan.
Park Slope Paint Strippers $200-225 per door
718 783 4112
Dipping is a great way to solve big stripping problems, and lots of times it’s the best option. But I’ve had a number of wood refinishers tell me that it’s harder on the wood than surface refinishing with strippers, tools, etc. So don’t jump directly to dipping without considering the alternatives, especially with high-value wood you want to preserve.
Big Apple Stripping is in Staten Island and they do Doors and Mouldings. You must pull every single nail out and remove all hardware for them to stip. Another company is Dip ‘n Strip in Hackensack New Jersey (better prices). If you are an average carpenter you should remove and have things stripped. Make sure you use a dremmel tool to label everything. Also when pulling nails from mouldings always pull them out from the back so you don’t damage the face.
Big Apple did my doors, when I was in the middle of doing all the moldings myself. Sooooo happy – they came back sanded and ready to be stained/sealed – being in the middle of the muck, you’ll appreciate the service alot. If I could have removed the moldings without destroying them I would have been happy to send those too.
Mine look great now, and I’m very happy I toughed it out and did the tedious work.
I understand it’s up to $250/door pickup/delivery included at Big Apple.
I had my shutters dipped at Big Apple Stripping. They did an amazing job – including pick-up and delivery – and offered lots of helpful tips on how to take care of them, etc.