Banister restoration

[gremlin_95]

Hi there,

We are currently attempting to restore the banisters in our 1920/30's house, this is currently how they look, there used to be white gloss paint which has been stripped off and the wood is now being sanded...

are after a light oak finish and were wondering what other work is needed to achieve a nice uniform finish all over?

Cheers

-- David

[Dave Liquorice]

Mostly stripped off, quite a lot left in inside corners etc. I guess it depends if you want the "stripped look" or want just wood.

No spindles, or other barrier, between the banister and string either. As it stands it won't pass building regs for stairs. I wouldn't be happy using such a staircase and if there are ever any children about far to easy for them to fall through the gap.

[Nospam]

I did something similar many years ago. Once you've done a LOT more stripping and taken-off those nasty square newel caps, have a look here:

It's easy to add spindles if you use their moulded channel (can't remember what it's called); you also need round newel caps. I used Hemlock (which I think is what your current newel posts might be), stained everything with Oak stain and then used Danish oil. It's about 15 years since I did it and it needs re-oiling, but it still looks great.

Dave

[David Robinson]

With that gap, pretty much unsaleable to anyone with children.

It's a real ****** making stripped woodwork look like anything other that stripped woodwork.

Unless you're going for shabby chic, you need to make it look like new wood (no paint, no marks, no scratches, no filler), or paint it. Sorry. I speak from bitter experience!

Cheers, David.

[Paul D Smith]

...snip...

What did you use to strip the old paint off? Looks like a nice finish and I would love to do the same but there's a lot of old paint!

Paul DS

[D.M.Chapman]

Our house is very similar to that, and has no bannister at all on the open side of the stairs. We do have a rail on the wall though.

We bought the house like that, and said we would have to sort it before we had kids.

Money was tight, and other things took priority.

One is now 11, the other just turned 8. They seem to have survived.

Darren

[gremlin_95]

Just to clear things up, there are usually spindles in place but because work is being done on, they have been temporarily removed.

Sorry I couldn't get on yesterday because Thunderbird was coming up with an error.

[gremlin_95]

Hi there,

It is my mum doing the work, she used a hot air gun, scraper, Nitro Mors on stubborn areas and 80 grit aluminium oxide.

[gremlin_95]

All I've been told is, the finish that is needed is 'light oak'

After more sanding can some sort of stain be utilised?

[Nospam]

See my earlier reply

[Nightjar]

Sometimes, making something obviously dangerous is more effective than making it apparently safe.

Colin Bignell

[gremlin_95]

Thanks, I did see your reply earlier but forgot to reply, sorry.

What sort of oak stain did you use?

Would this be okay:

it would be a bit more heard wearing if its for outdoor use...

[Nospam]

>> Presumably it would be a bit more heard wearing if its for outdoor use... >

I think I used Colron or Blackfriar (test on a hidden area) but you'll need to get ALL the old paint off first.

[gremlin_95]

Okay thanks for the help

[stuart noble]

Well worth bleaching with a pukka 2 part woodworking bleach. I've never known a timber that wasn't improved by what is a fairly quick and simple process

[gremlin_95]

Thanks

[gremlin_95]

Sorry to trouble you again, but where can this 2 part woodworking bleach be purchased from?