Staircase spindles / rail

[Mattatooi]

It seems to be stained in a light mahogony currently which I do not like.









I want to paint the spindles white / cream and have wood grain on the handrail part and end pieces. Is there anyway to make the handrail more like a tawny chestnut. I have no idea if this is even possible. Can anyone help me explain how this might be done?

I have zinseer bin to paint the spindles and then will paint with wood paint. Just have no idea how to tackle the hand rail and end pillar itself.

 

[gregers]

rub it down as much as you can,wipe the dust off with some white spirit on a cloth,let it dry then stain using the colour you want.

 

[Mattatooi]

How much do I need to sand down for the rail? Do I need to sand it so the mahogany is all gone and it is back to pine? (presumably its some sort of pine). What sorta grit would be best. For spindles was literrally going to give it a very quick rub with fine grit, clean and apply the zinseer bin.

 

[Mattatooi]

Also, if anyone can recommend a good brand of wood stain for the handrails that be great.. Not really sure what type I should be getting. Thanks

 

[Robbie uk]

The wood is mahogany anyway. This always has a reddish tinge to it. You can always stain darker but you cant stain lighter over already darker wood that is. Abrade it back , clean off and stain with the colour of your choice. Maybe a couple of coats of varnish over the top to give it a bit of depth and protect it.

 

[Mattatooi]

Is mahogany not quite a hard wood? I did not think this was mahogany, though I am no expert. What sort of wood is common for these type of spindles / stair rails? Perhaps I should post this in wood section of forums? Anyway, I got some 120 sandpaper, and gave small area a little sanding. Nothing too long, 20 seconds max, to see what would happen.



If I sand this back, I do think it will look lighter. As someone suggested above, after giving it a rub down with some white spirit I should be able to stain it, in say a type of oak?

We have tawny chestnut flooring downstairs, so thinking of going something similar (albeit it wont be exact. I think a type of oak should look good). Can anyone recommend good product to use on a hand rail? Also putting varnish on top, will that make it shiny?

Thanks all

 

[Robbie uk]

It is mahogany which is a hard wood. Most stair parts are either softwood, hemlock which is a semi hardwood, less knots etc, or hardwood, generally mahogany or oak.

 

[Mattatooi]

I am going to sand it down and try staining in a different colour. Initial test sand looked promising and I believe it will look better than it currently is! Project on hold but will start soon. Sorting out other room first. I will post pictures when time comes. Thanks for advice.

 

[emilybronte]

Good luck with the staircase. The carpet is terrible, though. I hope you didn't choose it.

 

[Mattatooi]

lol no. that is the old carpet. thats coming out when it is time. Oh lots of "great" tasting decor when we moved into this house

 

[emilybronte]

So true! Our worst-ever find (in a house we bought) was a dark purple bedroom ceiling sporting polystyrene tiles all over it with 1"-2" uneven gaps round them and splodges of different coloured paint on each one. A bit worrying, really.

 

[Mattatooi]

I am only getting round to actually getting this done, as I have been doing other projects.

I am just looking for some recommendations on products. I am wanting to stain the rail in a dark rich mahoganny. I don't want it to be red like it is now. The spindles will be white, and hoping it will look great. I am only staining the rail and end posts, and also the door sadels upstairs. So I want to stain and put a type of varnish on top. Again I have no idea what is good and bad products. Perhaps someone has some experience with brands they have used. Any advice would be great.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Gerrydelasel]

I can recommend Littlefair's wood dye, which is currently available on eBay and Amazon. It's water based, which makes it so easy to use. I've been staining doors with Dark Red Mahogany, which is a deep reddish brown, although I've now switched to Very Red Mahogany, which is still a more traditional darker red, rather than the modern light shade you currenty have. Mr Littlefair is extremely helpful if you email him. You can even stain white!

 

[Robbie uk]

To take the redness off the mahogany you could always add a little walnut stain of the same type to it, this will take the edge of it.

 

[Chri5]

Spindles will need a key and a few coats of Zinnser pre top coat white.

I'd recommend leaving the Zinnser a month before top coat just to make sure the wood oil and old finish doesn't bleed though.