tool for architraves

Sandpaper should do.

Caustic soda

Owain

Is this a complicated pattern that has lots of ins and outs that need sanding?

The fein has a moulding sanding attachment - basically a series of rubber profiles that you can wrap and clip sandpaper round - it then sands with a linear action.

Alternatively you can make a custom hand sanding block with some cling film and (wait for it) car body filler! Cover a small section with cling film and push some boddy filler onto it to take up the profile of moulding. Let it harden and then use it as a hand sanding block with an adhesive backed paper.

traditional curvy pattern

is it the best tool for the job ?

or something cheaper and simpler - I don't do much of that sort of thing at the moment

There's a cunning idea there, isn't there

If youre willing to strip a bit off by hand first you'd get a much better shape on the hand sanding block.

NT

With a moment more thought, sanding is deprecated for sash windows due to the risks of inhaling lead compound dust. Liquid stripper works if you need bare wood.

NT

In message , Rednadnerb writes

Hah, you're pullin' my todger

You wouldn't happen to know a suitable implement for knocking nails into a piece of wood while you're at it, would you ?

Having strippped *miles* of Victorian & Edwardian mouldings, I found that gentle application of a blowlamp followed by a firm wiping action with a genuine bristle (1) floor scrubbing brush works wonders. It is very important only to wipe in one direction - from the already stripped wood towards the heated area and then beyond onto cool. This literally rolls up the paint/varnish/shellac gunge. Then sanding is very easy with ordinary sandpaper as the wood hasn't been mucked up as it can be when using a scraper.

(1) Don't try this with a plastic brush - it'll melt !!!!

AWEM

Brass suede shoe brush,give it a few scuffings on a piece of scrap wood before use to soften it up.

He wants to sand the paint not burn it off.

Ooooh!

It may be a measure of my ignorance but I've not heard that before... ...and there's me just preparing to make good some rather grand victorian coving.

Thank you.

message

Pearls before swine - just tuck it away for next time and get over it !

AWEM

Angle grinder. Sorry it was late.