Old door refurb

[aparry93]

The previous owners of our house had some dogs who really enjoyed eating all of the doors. Can you recommend how we can repair these? Also what do you recommend to clean up the wood from all paint/plaster over the years. And what product to finish them with? Such as a clear varnish perhaps. Thanks again

 

[Toby Newell]

The previous owners of our house had some dogs who really enjoyed eating all of the doors. Can you recommend how we can repair these? Also what do you recommend to clean up the wood from all paint/plaster over the years. And what product to finish them with? Such as a clear varnish perhaps. Thanks again

1. Cut out section and replace.
2. Cabinet / carbide scraper / abrasive paper, try to stick with P80 and above if you can.
3. A nice satin or eggshell paint.

Doors have been KOH dipped hence the grey-brown biscuit colour and likely have grey plaster burns under the plaster. After several days of scraping, sanding, oxalic acid bleaching, washing, sanding again you could apply 1 or 2 coats of thin shellac (Special Pale or Sanding sealer) cut right back with P240 lubrasil cabinet paper, the apply 1 or 2 coats beeswax and carnauba with 0000 wire wool.

However.

If a client asked me, I would, maybe unkindly, point out that their doors had a perfect face for radio, or in fact paint, of the satin or eggshell variety. Which is what they would have worn orginally. Yellow pine, fir, redwood, spruce 99% were painted and occasionally, in posh Victorian townhouses, trompe l'oeilled to resemble oak or mahogany.

Only pitch pine, which I consider an honourary hardwood, was left as show wood.

Clear finish them if you like but I think paint would look much nicer, also you have more leeway with glues and fillers as the paint hides these.

 

[Toby Newell]

and, FYI, if your 'spread' is a bit liberal with the plaster and he has more bits to do, maybe cover any of your oak if it is unfinished as a big dollop will leave a nice grey plaster burn that won't sand out.

 

[Stevers]

Only pitch pine, which I consider an honourary hardwood, was left as show wood.

This was true in our hall and landing, where the pine woodwork was/is scumble grained oak (two distinct styles and periods), apart from the newel posts, handrail and spindles - all in pitch pine and varnished.

 

[RBailey]

Lovely doors.

A little triangle carbide scraper will take most of those drips in the blink of an eye.
The little Bacho ones are great tools and should be in every bodies tool kit.

A bit on my various scrapers here;

Cheers,
Richard B.

 

[mattyb]

yep, cut and replace would be the best option.

These doors are stunning, I hope you manage to repair them well. Good luck!