Oil finish? Stairs WIP

[FenceFurniture]

Brass brush (solid brass bristle, not the stupid brass plated steel, and definitely NOT a card file).

[Simplicity]

Sorry
But why not a card file
If you mean what I think

[FenceFurniture]

Best way to prematurely blunt a file Matt.

Edit: because the bristles do not fit into the teeth - the are wider in diameter than the gap between the teeth, so that means two things: the don't get into the gap properly to clean (which is the whole point) and because of this they therefore only go across the top of the teeth, therefore blunt them.

[Simplicity]

But a tooth being an upside down triangle
What is going to fit in the valley to dislodge material
When it's stuck down there

[FenceFurniture]

I guess it depends on how widespread the gunk is. I've used a compass point (north is usually best ) to get out aluminium. However, best not to get it in there in the first place - for "sticky" metals like alum, chalking the file works really well, and maybe that's worth a go with paint. It stops the gullets filling with the sticky stuff, and also prevents the stuff sticking to the steel.

[DaveTTC]

Big thanks to David for his initial reply with shellac and rh feneral concensus that agreed

Ive had lmoat no exleriwnce with rhe stuff and while ixohld have done a bettr job am generally pleased with rhe outcome. Pics to follow

Continuing my trip home. Hope to see th family about 2 or 3 but wxpect they'll all be asleep

Dave TTC
Turning Wood Into Art

[rwbuild]

Dave, stay safe in traveling, eyes on road, not phone, there's always tomorrow for that, you and your family are more important than whats being posted, but if you did it during a rest break, that's ok and my apologies. Take care mate.

[DaveTTC]

Made it safe and sound. Few kids especially want my attention. Will try and sort out some pics when I have a moment

Dave TTC
Turning Wood Into Art

[Xanthorrhoeas]

Hi Dave,

In the past I have cleaned turned furniture legs like those balusters using a heat gun and a shaped paint scraper - with a turned handle, round shaft and end that is triangular at one end and rounded or concave at the other. That usually leaves a few speckles, but because the paint was applied over the original shellac some 0000 steel wool and metho dissolves the shellac under the paint spots and it cleans off pretty easily.

Your shellac work looks good to me. The tonal variation is because the timber is old and just adds to the patina and beauty of the woodwork IMHO. Most finishes would reveal the same variation in the wood.

David

[DaveTTC]

Here is a view from the top



A look at the last two posts that had to be cleaned



A close up



Looking down the stairs



And at the treads



From the ground floor



And thisnis the paneling that still had paint residue on it



Dave TTC
Turning Wood Into Art

[rwbuild]

Dave, there is much more satisfaction and skill in what you have achieved on these 2 jobs as compared to the mass produced glorified boxes masquerading as houses today, well done

[DaveTTC]

Hi Dave,

In the past I have cleaned turned furniture legs like those balusters using a heat gun and a shaped paint scraper - with a turned handle, round shaft and end that is triangular at one end and rounded or concave at the other.

Yes i wish I had had my heat gun with me. Wiuld have been good to see how that might have worked.

I have similar scrapers and on old three sided traingle one. The shaped ones i ground to more suit the profile. Cheap steel and did not keep a cery good edge compared to my older one

That usually leaves a few speckles, but because the paint was applied over the original shellac some 0000 steel wool and metho dissolves the shellac under the paint spots and it cleans off pretty easily.

Would have been good to have put this to test on the job. Ive left now ... next time. 😉

Your shellac work looks good to me. The tonal variation is because the timber is old and just adds to the patina and beauty of the woodwork IMHO. Most finishes would reveal the same variation in the wood.

David

Thank you. Now that it is all done and dusted I am quite satisfied

Thank you too Ray. Agreed, much satisfaction from such a job. Would have been nice to have been allowed the time to redo the original section to a higher standard but it covered well considering




Dave TTC
Turning Wood Into Art

[FenceFurniture]

That looks a great job Dave! SIL must be chuffed with the result.