Rescuing original wooden shutters and frames.

[Pete Keane]

We have wooden shutters throughout the ground floor. Most of them are in working order, but not the ones in the kitchen.

These have been nailed in place, then had many years gloss paint slapped on top.

My first task is to free them up so we can take them off to refurbish.

My question, then, is what I can use to strip off the gloss so I can unseal them.

I have considered a hot air gun, but wondered if there are any chemical alternatives ie nitromors or such like. The problem I had last time I used the hot air gun was that the glass in situ cracked, and I dont fancy that again!

I will need to strip the frames down as well, hot air could take me months.

Regards

Pete.

 

[skier-hughes]

There is a great article on the main site
http://www.periodproperty.co.uk/ppuk_discovering_article_023.shtml

 

[middi]

If you will be repainting them I, personally, would have them chemically stripped.

 

[Nemesis]

No way. It may make them warp, split and shrink, and the mouldings part company.

Nitromors white spirit washable.

 

[MdB]

No way. It may make them warp, split and shrink, and the mouldings part company.

Nitromors white spirit washable.

Someone else stated in the past that there was two types of stripping. The common one causes warping, splitting and joints to fail as you state, the other is a lot better (and I think uses chemicals similar to Nitromors). I can't remember the details, maybe an expert can remind me.

 

[Nemesis]

I just did.

 

[middi]

I agree that chemically stripped internal doors is not advisable, simply because the owners want to show the wood grain and usually wax them. If the joints are resealed and the wood RE-PAINTED there is no problem.

Hence my answer " will you paint them again".

 

[MdB]

I just did.

OK clever clogs, how do you tell apart the company that does "good" chemical stripping and the company that does "bad" chemical stripping.

I believe the bad companies use a caustic solution and the good ones use a solvent but I don't know for sure which is why I am asking.

 

[Nemesis]

Use Nitromors and DIY.

But what can I know.

If really historic, the don't strip without keeping a record of what is there.

 

[middi]

On a purely historical front, as Nemesis indicated, why strip at all. They are well protected with about 50 coats of paint ( with the first 49 probably lead based and sealed with a coat of, probably, gloss)

I am trying to help the poor sod with with a busy job, 6 children and half an hour spare every other weekend to clean, repair and repaint his shutters.

 

[Nemesis]

But it won't help if they come back warped, split and spoilt.

I 've been there.

Plus removal of all the framing may mean damage, and more work trying to re-install.

One of ours.

So yes chemically strip if that means in situ, with Nitromors, but not if that means remove and dip and strip.

 

[Moo]

There are definitely two sorts of stripping (and I'm sorry, but I don't know what they're called).
We were warned about the caustic sort when we decided to strip the hall doors* in our house-before-last about twenty-five years ago, so we sent them to a recommended firm that used the gentler method. When they came back we spent a lot of time rinsing them with vinegar, then water, then left them for ages to make sure they had completely dried out. Wax was applied with v. fine wire wool.
They ended up the most glorious honey colour (no knots), there was not a trace of splitting or warping, and as far as I know they're still as beautiful as ever.
I guess the secret is to research all the local (and not-so-local) stripping companies very carefully.



* Substantial, and carrying so many coats of paint that a few more layers would have rendered the mouldings barely visible.

 

[Nemesis]

There is no guarantee that they will be good. None at all. Taking those sort of chances with antique joinery, made by skilled craftsmen a long time ago, simply isn't worth the risk. I wouldn't allow water or vinegar near good joinery.

Nitromors white spirit washable.

 

[middi]

But Nem, water and vinegar with a soft sponge is recommended by the SPAB to clean limewashed beams if they are to be waxed, as long as care is taken not to raise the grain by too vigorous use and that they are rinsed with clean water.

 

[Nemesis]

Very, very gently - and not following being dunked in anything liquid for a period of time.


I've tried most things in many, many decades of house repair, and came to the conclusion a very long time ago about what was the least destructive way of removing paint from all manner of surfaces.

Where detailed joinery such as windows is concerned (and indeed where cast iron is also) I'd go for the Nitromors which can be removed with white spirit. It doesn't raise the grain like water based stuff and water can.

I like hot air too to get the worst of the paint off, but gently and taking care with lead based paint. Not near windows though.

 

[middi]

I totally agree that the softly, tried and tested approach is the best course for restoration, if someone is comfortable using any non destructive method to repair and restore, that is good anough.

 

[dandrew]

Whilst I agree with Nemesis that caustic stripping is not a good idea, one can dip and strip in solvents (methylene chloride is I believe the chemical used, but you and I would know it as Nitromors). However the problem is that most dip & strip shops use caustic soda (sodium hydroxide) as it is cheap, the methylene chloride is significantly more expensive to buy, but does a much better job. If you ring around the dip n' strip people you might find one that uses solvents, they will be more expensive though

 

[Penners]

Pete - just one word of caution. If the shutters are softwood (which I imagine is quite likely) I woudn't used Klingstrip on them. You may read a lot of threads on this forum about this product, which is excellent for stripping oak and other hardwoods. However, my own experience with trying it on softwood wasn't good - it left the surface of the wood soft and fibrous.

As mentioned above, for this job my own choice would be Nitromors.

 

[GeoffP]

Don’t do the same as I did….. after spending much time and effort removing three sets of five feet high shutters stripping with hot air and sanding almost to perfection, some b….stard (sorry, burglar) broke into my workshop and pinched the lot. I’m still trying to find a decent joiner who will replace them with old pine at the right price.

Geoff

 

[Nemesis]

Sad but, particularly as the probability of them fitting elsewhere is remote.