How to remove mouldings on wood fireplace surround

[Sharona]

Hi I'm wanting to update a wood mantelpiece & want to remove the fancy mouldings on the front it. Does anyone know how I can do this please? The only way I can think of is to take a chisel & try to prise them off, but think it might take chunks of the wood out. They are firmly fixed to the mantel, probably by industrial glue! Any advice is very welcome. Thanks.

 

[Gerrydelasel]

Need photos

 

[JohnD]

how old is it?

 

[Sharona]

I's about 20yrs old, put it when house was built.

 

[Tigercubrider]

Something like a multitool might do it?
The type that has a vibrating plate - if you have enough room to slip it in to start?
I have a feeling that you may have a task though.
Try a wide chisel as they may have been light on the glue

 

[Gerrydelasel]

Hmm for the effort you might as well start from scratch
http://www.thejoyofmoldings.com/how-to-build-fireplace-mantel-103-part-1/

 

[Deleted member 174758]

Assuming that the mouldings aren't that well adhered, a decent sized sharp chisel, say 1-1/4in (32mm) or 1-1/2in (38mm) wide applied to the surface of the timber with the bevel down and tapped smartly with a mallet or a hammer (providing it is a plastic-handled chisel) is often efficacious in removing applied mouldings

 

[Sharona]

Hi everyone, thanks for your replies. It seems that chiselling it off is the main option, so I'll try that & have a tin of wood filler handy as well. Then sand it down & paint the mantel white. Thanks again.

 

[Gossamer]

A flat crowbar is good for prising things off, like skirting etc.

 

[bcmameyes]

Hi I'm wanting to update a wood mantelpiece & want to remove the fancy mouldings on the front it. Does anyone know how I can do this please? The only way I can think of is to take a chisel & try to prise them off, but think it might take chunks of the wood out. They are firmly fixed to the mantel, probably by industrial glue! Any advice is very welcome. Thanks.

Hi Sharona - I'm wanting to do exactly the same thing. Did you have any luck getting them off and if so how did you manage it in the end? Thanks.

 

[bcmameyes]

View attachment 129326 I's about 20yrs old, put it when house was built.

Also did you do anything with the marble?

 

[conny]

Hi Sharona - I'm wanting to do exactly the same thing. Did you have any luck getting them off and if so how did you manage it in the end? Thanks.

As Sharona has only posted a total of 3 times he/she is unlikely to see your reply.
You could try the methods mentioned above but consider carefully before you start what you may feel if they don't work.

 

[Tigercubrider]

With anything like that, it's often a case of experimenting with the lightest touch first- work up to heavier stuff if you need to

 

[foxhole]

Easy enough to remove and make something up from a bit of cheap mdf, did this for my daughters home.

Lounge Now

• foxhole
• 27 Apr 2011
• 4

 

[Helen1988]

I did mine today I took the middle flower moulding off ant the two outer ones under the mantle they came of with a good hammer and chisel, hubby hasn't seen iv done it as yet.......haha!