Anyone like before/after paint stripping projects??

I finally finished most of my paint stripping projects and had a chance to put them in sequential order. It started in Summer 2008 and completed in Fall 2010\. After receiving astronomical price quotes, I decided to do it all by myself! I just sold my brownstone in Bed-Stuy, and these are the beginning and after shots of the wood restorations. It was a lotta work, so please, be kind 🙂 http://www.flickr.com/photos/67167023@N07/sets/72157627773690092/show/

EastStuy

in Wood Restoration 13 years and 7 months ago

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berniceshola | 13 years and 7 months ago

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Absolutely fantastic work, and very inspiring. I’ve been stripping my woodwork piecemeal over the last four years, and this makes me want to go back at it. Good advice on the clay modeling tools, I’ve tried dental picks but they’re often too flexible. HAve you used a heat gun? and any tricks for obscuring the tiny flecks of pain that just own’t come out? Thanks for sharing these pics.

EastStuy | 13 years and 7 months ago

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Hi Silvermax……thinking back to wainscoating makes me cringe…lol. Your foyer has wainscoating, or is it chair-railing? I ask because I used different methods/materials for each one. Both present their own challanges, but it’s mostly because of the type of wood was used. Feel free to email me at jonye.west@yahoo.com so we can discuss further (could write a book here). But basically, I didn’t wear goggles, and only wore a mask when I was sanding; especially when I wasn’t near ventalation. I would also try my best to use non-caustic materials, but when they didn’t work, I resorted to more powerful materials to get initial layers off.

Silvermax | 13 years and 7 months ago

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It is truly stunning. I plan to strip the wainscotting and door frame in my foyer sometime, and I would be very interested in your methodology. Did you wear a mask and/or goggles? Did you use a heat gun? or liquid stripper? or that paste-on stuff? If you can, please provide some details.

EastStuy | 13 years and 7 months ago

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Thanks, Honeycut! I agree 100%….that’s what kept me going; I felt as if the wood was able to finally breath again as each layer came off (corny, I know) 🙂

honeycut | 13 years and 7 months ago

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Great job! There is nothing more satisfying than seeing all those layers come off and find details previously hidden by 100+ years of paint!

EastStuy | 13 years and 7 months ago

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Thanks, Mopar! I used a combination of methods, but the most important item would be the dental (clay molding) tools which you can buy on Amazon or in a hobby shop. I took the doors off the hinges to make sure I got all the paint. Each of the fireplaces I did took me about 2 months to complete (weekends). I noticed that depending on how many coats of paint combined with what type of wood was underneath dictated what method of removal was best. Although some pieces of trim and other areas might not be worth stripping, I decided to stick with all 4 mantles,entry/foyer doors, shutters, etc. I will spare you the details of why I sold, but I really miss these projects. I have been asked to do some work for neighbors lately, and I am seeking more from anyone who would like this done. It’s tedious work, but I hope you continue to keep trying for the hard work certainly has its rewards! Let me know if I can be of any further assistance.

callalily | 13 years and 7 months ago

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Oh, and most important: Where can you buy dental picks?

callalily | 13 years and 7 months ago

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I am amazed and stunned. The raw wood looks incredible. How did you do this — in such a short time? What product/method did you use? How did you do doors — did you remove them or do it with the doors vertical? How could you bear to sell after all this work? I stripped one mantle, literally just a shelf above the stove, and it took me weeks (months?). It’s still not really properly finished. Would you recommend doing all the trim in every room, or just key items such as doors, newel posts, etc.?

EastStuy | 13 years and 7 months ago

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LOL…..thanks, Kensingtonian! Little bits of progress is what kept me going…..along with my meticulous personality. You should pick it back up, if you can.

Kensingtonian | 13 years and 7 months ago

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Holy shit, awesome job. You have a lot of patience man. I tried once and gave up after doing quarter of a door.