Painting over Varnished Woodwork

[oldiesnut]

Hi, everyone. My 40-year-old home has varnished woodwork throughout (door frames, window frames, kick moulding, etc.), and I am finally tired of looking at it. I want to paint it, but the sanding is a nightmare! Is there anything else I can do to prepare this stuff for painting, or do I have to replace all of it? Thanks for any help.

[womble]

I would have thought just paint straight over it...


you know the next owners will probably want the bare timber look, murphys law and all that

[Stuart]

I have just done this over the weekend in one room. Used a Blowfly sander - took about 5 minutes for the entire room just to give the paint something to bond to.

You need to use enamel paint, it goes on without a problem over the varnish.

[oldiesnut]

Womble: Thanks, but I'm not worried about the next owner. I've lived here for all 40 of the house's years, and in its next life, which isn't too far off, this house will be razed and the property will become a developer's dream. So I just want it to suit me while I still live in it.

Stuart: The Blowfly sander idea sounds perfect. I have just one (multipart) question: What is a Blowfly sander, what does it do, and where do I get one?

Thanks, all.

[MurrayD99]

There is a preparation you can get to paint over the varnish - something called (maybe) armorcoat.... but I forget exactly. Watery sort of sealer - quick drying. Helps adhesion of the paint. You might look at Zinsser Cover Stain - www.zinsser.com (http://www.zinsser.com). Down here it is about $40/litre. Seems to be very similar to what I used.

[sea dragon]

Use the Zinsser.
I followed advice of sanding back and then priming/undercoating before using an acrylic, as per a rep at a paint trade store. It did not work. The paint chipped.
The technical people at Dulux explained that the varnish soaks into the timber and stops a proper adhesion. The fellow actually said that the US product of Zinsser was the best answer.
I had used Zinsser before and found it to be excellent so I was really peeved to have been taken down a wrong pathway first. It took me a lot longer to use metho and steel wool to get the paint off than it had taken to put it on.:eek:
I have no affiliation etc, but say it again, use the Zinsser.

[Stuart]

Stuart: The Blowfly sander idea sounds perfect. I have just one (multipart) question: What is a Blowfly sander, what does it do, and where do I get one?

Thanks, all.
Blowfly sander:
http://www.piricdesign.com.au/Images/Blowfly/Blowfly_Colourized-03.gif
Available from www.piricdesign.com.au (http://www.piricdesign.com.au) (you can also get it from his eBay store if you prefer).

What I did with mine was this
http://www.piricdesign.com.au/Images/Blowfly/Split_Belt_Colourized.gif
with the slits 5mm apart, so the very fine fingers could get in everywhere.
You don't have to cut all the way down - just make a starting cut, then tear the rest of the way - being a cloth-backed belt it tears easily, and straight.

We have a video of it in action in the Ubeaut video section http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/showthread.php?t=35496 or you can get him (Terry) to send you the DVD for about 50cents.

The sander itself costs about $45 (plus postage of about $8 or something). These are $Australian. Email Terry from his website, and he may be able to arrange getting one to you over there. If you want to make it worth your while, and you have a drill press, his Wasp is also an excellent invention. There are many drill presses in Australia with one fitted.

No, have no association with the product, company etc, and don't get any commissions either (although for the number I have influenced sales of....... :rolleyes: Need another one to give my Dad for a Xmas present.....)

[LegacyGT]

how good is this forum!

just the info i need to clean up my leadlight doors for painting...

http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/showthread.php?t=39612&page=2