restaining bay window?

[amk]

I want to use the same color stain to restain the trim around bay window. The last home owners never put a protective coat on the bay window after it was stained. There are some areas where the stain has been rubbed off, so I want to restain so it looks nicer. Do I need to use a stripper even though there is no protective coat and I am using the same color? If I don't use a stripper wil the stain look uneven?

[CThomp]

I think i'd hit it with a palm sander rather than using a stripper. Wood tends to have a saturation point when it comes to stains anyhow. There will always be spots on the wood the hold the stain better than others. It just depends on how dense the wood is. But for the most part it should be uniform.

Example: I recently stained a vanity made out of red oak. I used an American Cherry stain so the vanity would match my floors. Two coats was all the wood would allow.

I also wouldn't use a stripper because it's nasty stuff and you probably wouldn't get the stain out anyhow. It is a "stain" after all.

Sand it
Stain it
Seal it
Go have a beer

In that order.

[amk]

Thanks- That's exactly what I will do. I wasn't crazy about using a stripper - haha.

[CThomp]

Using strippers is so rarely a good idea that you might as well never at all. Stippers...by most accounts...are a waste of money...pun intended. ;)

[David]

In terms of stain, is a stripper the same thing as a bleacher?

[CThomp]

I'm not really sure. I've used paint stripper just once. Just using it once I could feel the cancer sells forming. I'm not a big fan of using chemicals.

Seems like hitting the trim with some 80 grit would take care of it anyhow. Then you could avoid the whole respirator/rubber glove thing.

I'd use the 80 grit, then stain it, then another coat for safe measure, then seal it, then hit it with 120 grit, then seal it again.

[jrhode]

I agree that sanding is much preferred over chemical strippers. You almost always get better final results by sanding.

I would try to touch up the bare areas with stain before i did anything else, especially if you have any of the original stain around. You may have to clean the wood of any oils or contaminants first. If that doesn't work or look right, then start sanding. You haven't really lost anything, and maybe saved yourself some labor time. Just make sure you seal and varnish it now!

Strippers vs. wood bleach - two very different animals. Strippers are for removing surface films (paint, varnish, etc. While some claim to remove stain, I've yet to see one that really does. Citri-Strip came the closest, and i think i've used them all over the years)

Wood bleach is for lightening the color of bare wood. Sometimes you can remove water stains, or at least blend them in better. Bleaches will help even out the overall tone of the wood.

[giddonah]

Seems like hitting the trim with some 80 grit would take care of it anyhow. Then you could avoid the whole respirator/rubber glove thing.
I'd still wear the respirator though. Sanding makes for some very fine paint particles. But I do agree it's better than dealing with chemical vapors.

[CThomp]

I'd still wear the respirator though. Sanding makes for some very fine paint particles. But I do agree it's better than dealing with chemical vapors.


True. I need to buy a better respirator. I've been using those cheapo little face mask things.

[giddonah]

I hate how they make me sweat (or is it the work that makes me sweat:confused:) but I do enjoy the difference in breathing afterwards. No coughing, no colored snot. They take a little getting used to, but I really appreciate mine.

[CThomp]

Where did you find one? I need to buy a couple. Demo is the worst. There's nothing worse than breathing plaster dust. Not to mention what ever else is floating around.

I've usually got lots of box fans set up to suck air out. It work fairly well but it's still not great.

[jrhode]

Most paint stores have dust masks. Get the kind that has thicker material and a valve built into the front for exhaust. You'll stay much cooler and breathe better.

[giddonah]

The box stores have them with safety stuff. Here, that's right next to nail guns. They have replaceable canisters that stick out and look funny.

[MHIC]

I have done a lot of refinishing work and strippers work great. I only use them on HEAVILY sealed finishes. IN your case just sand with some 80-100 grit and then come back with 180-220. If you dont use the finer paper you will see scratches in it later. Then stain, seal, sand lightly, seal.