Restore colour to handrail on the stairs....

[WabbitPoo]

I've been asked if I can "varnish" a handrail, which is basically brown with paler bits of the actual wood showing through. The customer wants a nice, even colour (dark mahogany for example). This is what I have to cover up

It looks like its been varnished in the past. However, upon rubbing it down to remove the shine, a good clean with white spirit and application of a coloured varnish, the light areas (caused by wear and perhaps dodgy sanding in the past) still show through. I also tried a wood stain, but it failed to do much.

Do I have to take it right back, or is there soething else I could try, to achieve a uniform colour and shine eg Sadolin?

Also, she wants satinwood over those awful gold twiddly bits. Currently a metallic gold - will BIN prime them sufficiently without a lot of fiddly sanding?

 

[WabbitPoo]

Any ideas?

 

[cwhaley]

Can the timber handrail be stripped back using proper paint/varnish stripper along with a soft wire brush, then sandpaper to finish?

Once the timber is stripped back it can be de-nibbed to provide adhesion for a new coat of paint. Or if you're re-staining, a new stain over the top then lacquer.

That's the exact thing I did to a relative's stairs handrail and it turned over very tidy.

 

[ic1927]

Had a similar job earlier this year. I took it back to bare with a detail sander, didn't take very long, started with 40 grit pads then worked through to 180 grit. BIN should be fine over the spindles before applying your satin.

 

[WabbitPoo]

Thanks guys. As I had to crack on before I saw your replies, I ended up with satin black Hammerite on the gold (one coat was OK) and a coat of coloured gloss varnish on the handrail as she said she didn't want the bother of getting it all knocked back and re-stained! So now it looks a lot better but not as perfect as I wanted it. Customers, eh?