Hi everyone. First of I would just like to say I have plenty of experience stripping paint but in this case my usual techniques are failing me and I could use a little advice.
Recently purchased my first house, an 1974 ex local authority property.
Decided I wanted to return the hall/stairway to the wood and stain it to match my flooring. Being poor I decided to reuse what I have rather than purchase new timber
Door frames, checks, hand rails, balusters, skirting etc.
All removed, heat gun and shave hook did most of the work. Quick blast with some p80 on the belt sander then hand p80, p120 and p180 has given me a desirable enough finish pre stain/varnish.
However the stairs are proving a challenge. The top layers off gloss, as with the other wood came off without issue. However the bottom layer ( painted directly on the wood by renfrewshire council in 1974) is incredible stubborn.
The belt sander took this off no problem and can be used to do a large area of the treads, but is simply impractical for the edges and risers and on the inside if the strings.
The heat gun will soften it a little but will not bubble and scrape off.
I tried cheap paint stripped which seemed to take a layer off but a lot still remained. I moved to NitroMors wich was quicker and removed a little more but not enough to clean with steel wool.
Other than spending hours with p80 rubbing my fingers to the bone I'm stumped. Anyone have any little tricks or advise to ease such a laborious job?
**EDIT**
I had also forgot to mention that the stairs had been painted only down the edge of the treads and risers 8"-10" and the runner down the middle has been varnished. In the one stair I have managed to clean completely, the varnish has left a shadow on the stair. No amount of paint stripper and sanding seems to make a diffirence.
Thanks?
1st image is as it was around a week ago
2nd is how it was just as I lifted the carpet.
Recently purchased my first house, an 1974 ex local authority property.
Decided I wanted to return the hall/stairway to the wood and stain it to match my flooring. Being poor I decided to reuse what I have rather than purchase new timber
Door frames, checks, hand rails, balusters, skirting etc.
All removed, heat gun and shave hook did most of the work. Quick blast with some p80 on the belt sander then hand p80, p120 and p180 has given me a desirable enough finish pre stain/varnish.
However the stairs are proving a challenge. The top layers off gloss, as with the other wood came off without issue. However the bottom layer ( painted directly on the wood by renfrewshire council in 1974) is incredible stubborn.
The belt sander took this off no problem and can be used to do a large area of the treads, but is simply impractical for the edges and risers and on the inside if the strings.
The heat gun will soften it a little but will not bubble and scrape off.
I tried cheap paint stripped which seemed to take a layer off but a lot still remained. I moved to NitroMors wich was quicker and removed a little more but not enough to clean with steel wool.
Other than spending hours with p80 rubbing my fingers to the bone I'm stumped. Anyone have any little tricks or advise to ease such a laborious job?
**EDIT**
I had also forgot to mention that the stairs had been painted only down the edge of the treads and risers 8"-10" and the runner down the middle has been varnished. In the one stair I have managed to clean completely, the varnish has left a shadow on the stair. No amount of paint stripper and sanding seems to make a diffirence.
Thanks?
1st image is as it was around a week ago
