Fixing up period doors (stripping/fixing locks)

oceanclub

So we've a bunch of Victorian doors in our houses which need fixing it. They all have layers and layers of paint which needs to be removed (any new paint that went on simply chipped off again pretty rapidly). Also, the old locks need reconditioning.

I've asked painters about stripped the doors but it's quite obvious this isn't a job any of them want to take on. I'm wondering how best to do it myself. Should I take down a door at a time, bring it out the backyard, and use something like Peelaway on it? http://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/product/peelaway-one

For the fixing up the locks (which mostly seem in a good condition, just loose), is there anyone in Dublin whose speciality that is?

P,

dathi

if you are taking them down you could use a heat gun and scraper make sure you are in a well ventilated area as the old paint may contain lead

oceanclub

dathi wrote: »

if you are taking them down you could use a heat gun and scraper make sure you are in a well ventilated area as the old paint may contain lead

OK, doesn't using something like Peelaway avoid the lead problem? (Also avoids the "accidentally burn house down" problem

P.

Calahonda52

have u considered dip stripping, these days I believe they use water based stuff so the old glue is not consumed by the acid/caustic soda of old

hesker

DIY would be a lot of work. My sister had some doors dipped & stripped a few year ago and they came out great. I have old doors in need of the same just haven't gotten around to it yet. A caustic treatment will be water based.

http://boards.fool.co.uk/cold-dipping-is-not-something-common-but-i-have-10273946.aspx

You could fix the locks up yourself. I did that on mine including opening up the mechanism to clean and apply a bit of oil. Be careful if you try that as the mechanism can spring apart and you have to figure out how it all goes back together. I slid a wide blade between the two halves when opening up to keep the pieces in position.

oceanclub

Calahonda52 wrote: »

have u considered dip stripping, these days I believe they use water based stuff so the old glue is not consumed by the acid/caustic soda of old

I'd read, perhaps here, about someone whose doors were ruined that way so was a bit skeptical. Worth a look I guess.

P.

Borzoi

oceanclub wrote: »

I've asked painters about stripped the doors but it's quite obvious this isn't a job any of them want to take on. I'm wondering how best to do it myself.

P,

It's a pig of a job. As a youth I worked for a painter and we stripped a 12 door screen in a church. It took the best part of a month. Nitromors and scrapers.

Dipping can strip the wood glue, and also the wood soaks up the agent and swells and then shrinks when drying.

hesker

You should see if anyone can bead blast it. I saw it on TV once, blasted with sand. Very quick and clean.