Repainting front door - to strip or not?

[str]

Planning to repaint our solid wooden front door - is there any merit in stripping the door back to bare wood prior to repainting?

I would like to get a nice crisp finish and plan to move the letterbox so there will be some filling necessary - had heard that car filler will give a noce, seamless fill - is this true?

Is there any real merit in stripping the door back to bare wood or will I get just as good a finish with sanding to give a key then repainting?

Any professional opinions? Would like to hear some before I go off and buy a heat gun!!

 

[OhGranny]

Have you done stripping off before?
I've done this and it is a lot of (messy) work.
I would think twice unless the old paint is really too far gone.
Even after stripping there is still a fair bit of rubbing down to do if you want a good finish.
G.

 

[str]

have stripped skirtng boards and internal door previosuly - hell of a lot of work - hence the question

current paint job in solid but I want a good finish so dont mind spending the time if it will make a difference.

main thing is ifI am moving the letter box position will it give a better finish when filling the old letter box position