Stripping Paint

[timtheenchanter]

I want to remove the paint (many layers of it) from my banister and its spindles, there are approx 50 spindles, I am wanting to stain/varnish it when finished to return it to its origional state,
Is using a heat gun going to damage the wood, they are turned so i dont really want to sand after and remove the decoration,
and is using a paint stripper going to make a mess and damage the rest of the decor??

any tips gratefully received

 

[Zampa]

Biggest tip I can give you is rip em out and buy new ones...beleive me its takes an age...ive been to loads of jobs where people have started it and given up.

it would take about an hour to strip each spindle with an heat gun...and you could end up scorching it...it would take about 15 mins to knock one out and replace it....no scorching either

 

[Mantamad]

My wife did our stair case and it took her ages, she used a heat gun to get the worst of it off, then nitromors to complete the job, it did need some sanding though and then finished with a stain/varnish.

Turned out very well - we did not want to fit a new balustrade as its part of the original house (Victorian) and quite ornate.

Someone did suggest carefully taking it apart and getting the spindles stripped by a specialist.

 

[Zampa]

Doing that is a good idea too...just make sure they stack em properly when thye are drying out.

Its a hard old job stripping paint off...and one of the most boring.

 

[confidentincompetent]

beleive me its takes an age...ive been to loads of jobs where people have started it and given up.

So right there Zampa! Some look awful too where they cant get all the primer out, hence strips/ spots /scabs of pink showing through varnish/ woodstain. Can't help thinking paint & grain would be better in some cases.