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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this doesn't look like 4-5 hours work?

73 replies

Windsweptaway · 22/01/2022 20:48

Currently trying to prep my stairs for painting, need to take them back to wood.

Have been trying to scrape paint/ varnish off, having previously treated it all with paint remover, since 4pm, but as you can see from the photo it's nowhere near done. You can only see about 2/3 of the stair rise, and I've not even started the part not shown.

I have to stop now as my arm is burning, but I just can't see how I'm ever going to finish it. Just clearing the floor is going to take the best part of an hour now 😞

How do people manage to do this? Am I missing something?

To think this doesn't look like 4-5 hours work?
OP posts:
monkeysox · 22/01/2022 20:52

Get a heat gun to burn the paint off. You'll be on forever.

www.screwfix.com/p/energer-enb467htg-2000w-electric-heat-gun-240v/59740

YeOldeTrout · 22/01/2022 20:56

heat gun to get the paint easy to melt/peel off -- carefully if it might be lead-full.

PrincessNikla · 22/01/2022 21:03

I read that oven cleaner works very well (however I have not tried this, so use at own risk)

tickingthebox73 · 22/01/2022 21:19

Belt sander, or if the wood can be removed, send it for dipping (I spent days stripping one door before I realised most people just removed the doors and had them dipped in acid to remove the paint.

Cocolapew · 22/01/2022 21:26

It took me days to do the same thing, and that was with stripper and a heat gun. I've invested in a hand held sander now but haven't tried it yet.

sleepylittlebunnies · 22/01/2022 21:31

If you’re going to repaint it all does the existing paint need fully stripping? I just sand it a bit but not completely remove.

Original poster
Windsweptaway · 22/01/2022 21:34

Downstairs is open plan so I really don't want to use an electric sander, I will be cleaning dust til doomsday.

I was on a DIY forum before I started and lots of people were saying just use paint remover rather than a heat gun, especially if you don't have much to take off (this is 2 layers of gloss and then varnish under) but they implied the paint would peel off. It doesn't.

I think I might've been better off with the heat gun.

OP posts:
Original poster
Windsweptaway · 22/01/2022 21:36

Unfortunately it did need stripping right back as the painting wasn't great, plus it had been put straight over varnish so a poor finish. But for that I'd happily have just sanded it back a bit as prep.

OP posts:
HiCandles · 22/01/2022 21:46

Heat gun for sure. I've done woodwork like that in 2 houses now. It's good fun too, quite satisfying seeing the paint peeling. I use a flat scraper and a shaver hook. Be careful though as the wood can get quite hot with concentrated heat, don't start a fire!

DreamTheMoors · 22/01/2022 21:47

I refinished an antique bedroom set years ago at my grandparent’s house in their garage. I could only work on it after work & on weekends.
It took all summer.
And fortunately for me, an expert carpenter & furniture restorer lived next door and guided me through the entire process.
It’s a gigantic undertaking. Just remember the Three T’s: Things. Take. Time.

Wonnle · 22/01/2022 21:50

Paint strippers are next to useless these days , back in the day Nitromors would have sorted that out no problem

Kotatsu · 22/01/2022 21:56

whatever you do, get some of the very thin plastic sheeting with masking tape on one edge - either the full length stuff, to stop dust getting everywhere, or the 30cm stuff to stop you painting where you don't mean to (and so you don't have to scrape up all that stuff on the floor again)

I was very disappointed with paint stripper. Heat gun was better in my opinion

NorthSouthcatlady · 22/01/2022 22:02

Another vote got heat gun

NorthSouthcatlady · 22/01/2022 22:02

Got = for

Mummy1608 · 22/01/2022 22:05

You sand but someone holds a hoover under your sander at the same time. You'll still need to hoover the floor after but it'll only need a quick going over as you'll have caught most of it as you went along

Ziggerty · 22/01/2022 22:05

Get yourself some zinsser b-i-n. Brilliant stuff. Can be painted directly on varnished surfaces as a primer!

Mummy1608 · 22/01/2022 22:06

I used to be the hoover-holder in my uncle's woodworking workshop when I was little

theresapossuminthekitchen · 22/01/2022 22:08

Heat gun. We had this issue in a 1930 house, a few coats of prob 1970s paint and the paint stripper barely touched it. The heat gun was the only way!

PonyPatter44 · 22/01/2022 22:09

@Wonnle

Paint strippers are next to useless these days , back in the day Nitromors would have sorted that out no problem
Can't you get NitroMors any more? That was a mainstay in my first job!
BeenHereForAges · 22/01/2022 22:10

You deserve a heat gun. Treat yourself!

Seriously that's going to take a week without one. I admire your determination though!

Sparklynewname · 22/01/2022 22:15

Make sure your scrapers are up to the job. I have a few different shapes of scraper but unfortunately stripping wood takes an inhumane amount of time and effort. Maybe you could just set yourself a target area to complete each day?
A sander will just clog up with paint and get dust everywhere.
If you can get a scraper in at just the right angle, you’ll find you have much more success. Good luck!

Original poster
Windsweptaway · 22/01/2022 22:15

I used Nitromors, I think it's weaker than it used to be.

Going to buy a heat gun on Monday. No one to hold the vacuum for me while sanding unfortunately so heat gun it is. Just wish I'd be bought one today and saved myself time!

OP posts:
Moobootoyoutoo · 22/01/2022 22:19

You can get nitromors but they removed the main chemical (think it was either methylene chloride and or dichlorometheme?sp.). And is basically useless now. I think you've done a great job there, it does just take time but I'd also highly recomend a heat gun but then also the zinniser BIN, great think about it is you can just keep overpainting it too, without much prep, unlike any gloss finishes

Moobootoyoutoo · 22/01/2022 22:20

Screwfix basic heatgun is decent - have something you can rest it on between uses, obviously it gets red hot

EdHelpPls · 22/01/2022 22:20

Put newspaper on floor first then just roll it up at the end and bin it.
I took about 8 layers of paint off my bannister recently using a carbide scraper. V satisfying! I'd bought it for taking paint of exterior sills and