Any DIYers out there?

[swee'pea99]

Wondered if anyone could advise me on a wee problem.

Old Victorian bannister, which has at some point been stripped of paint - but not well. The result being this:

If you look a bit closer...

...you can see the whole thing is covered in these wee holes full of paint.

Question being, is there any way to repair them without actually just sanding off the entire top layer - which needless to say would be a bugger of a job, and ruin the accumulated sheen toboot? Is there any paste or putty or anything that can actually soften up those little divots of paint and then suck them out of their holes? Ok, it sounds highly unlikely, but I thought it couldn't hurt to ask.

Thanks for any advice/suggestions.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

DIY expert eh, well if you need it nailing to the wrong side of a door let me know.

 

[TVC]

Try a gel paint stripper. B&Q website gives you seversl options.

 

[Octet]

Paint thinner or similar, something like Acetone would dissolve the paint however I don't know what it would do to the bannister.

 

[sight-pin]

You can place a damp rag over the dents and iron over with a hot iron, this revives the grain in the wood and is a trick used by gun smiths. But with so many dents covered in paint it'll still need some sanding and refinishing

 

[swee'pea99]

You can place a damp rag over the dents and iron over with a hot iron, this revives the grain in the wood and is a trick used by gun smiths. But with so many dents covered in paint it'll still need some sanding and refinishing

Hmmm...revives the grain eh? I like the sound of that. Sounds very expert. Don't understand it, but I like the sound of it. (Um...what happens when the grain is revived?)

Meanwhile I toddled off to check out gel strippers - I agree about the paint thinner...probably do more harm than good, I suspect

 

[goody]

Paint it white.

 

[smokeysmoo]

Paint it white.

Don't be ridiculous..................................he needs this

 

[sight-pin]

Hmmm...revives the grain eh? I like the sound of that. Sounds very expert. Don't understand it, but I like the sound of it. (Um...what happens when the grain is revived?)

Meanwhile I toddled off to check out gel strippers - I agree about the paint thinner...probably do more harm than good, I suspect

The steam produced raises the wood grain so the dent almost disappears (with a little luck)
Gun stocks often get dented when rough shooting, i used to do with my shotguns, but it does leave the area dull so needs polishing and buffing after.
You have nothing to loose to try and don't be afraid to wet the rag and use a hot iron to produce steam.....Have fun.

 

[Dayvo]

I'd sand it (then stain/paint it) but you want to avoid doing that, so other than that, I can't help.

 

[sight-pin]

Or buy a new mop stick bannister lol

 

[Mark Grant]

I don't think that you have much choice other than to sand it back and re-varnish.
I'd remove any paint. Sand it with fine paper or steel wool, pick out any bigger specks of paint from the grain with a scalpel or similar tool. Wipe it over with some thinners and then give a nice even coat of an oil based coloured varnish.
This will then even out the colour minimising the appearance of the specks. It's not ideal but probably a good compromise.
If it is a handrail definitely use an oil/solvent based varnish, water based will get grotty quickly.
Or french polish it.

 

[rich p]

Nope, there isn't any way round sanding IMHO. If you're willing to dab paint stripper on every pin-hole and dent, wait for it to soften and then try to gouge each softened bit of paint out with a needle you may have more patience than me!

 

[rich p]

cross-posted with Mark!

 

[swee'pea99]

Nope, there isn't any way round sanding IMHO. If you're willing to dab paint stripper on every pin-hole and dent, wait for it to soften and then try to gouge each softened bit of paint out with a needle you may have more patience than me!

Isn't that what children are for?



No, I think it's going to be sanding after all. I suspected it all along. Thanks all. (As to the steaming...I like the sound of it, but it's not dents I'm worried about really...just those damn paint flecks.)