Cleaning interior wood and paneling What works best?

[SKYCHENEY]

Removing two-part varnishes is easy. I just learned the technique from my neighbor's caretaker who spends 24/7/365 taking care of the most beautiful boat on the dock. Wave a heat gun, on high, over the area without pausing, and when it bubbles, run a 90° scraper over it. It comes of in one swipe, completely with no damage to the wood beneath at all. Very little sanding to do afterwards. I removed all of the two-part varnish (Bristol Finish) on my aft deck hand rails in about 20 minutes. I had to take it back down to the bare wood, because I haven't touched it in six years, and those rails are not covered to hide from the South Florida sun. I'm guilty...but that is quite a testament to the Bristol Finish product - I was only trying to repair a few blemishes and decided to take it all down. Tomorrow, I'll be applying 3 coats of West 207, followed with Awlgrip clear topcoat and see how that holds up in the brutal sun. I still have Bristol Finish on my other stuff...I just want to test the different products in my environment.

By the way, I HATE to varnish, but I adore the varnished wood. So, I try to find stuff that give me years of service without having to mess with it.

I'm trying something new as well. I just stripped my back doors and sealed them with CPES. Next I'm going with a few coats of varnish followed by spraying several coats of Imron MS1 clear on top. I want to see how the MS1 holds up but I still want the amber color of varnish so that is why I'm building with varnish first. We'll see how it does.

 

[Avenger]

The scraper sounds similar to a tool called a furniture scraper, which is basically a piece of spring steel that you hold perpendicular to the wood and pull it across the surface. Just as described it chips the finish off without damamging the substrate. Works well on hard, built up finishes.

 

[TROUBLE]

the' re called "cabinet Scrapers.

Art

 

[MikeP]

" they actually rate cetol as the best coating for wood.thats ridiculous. "

Depends on what they mean by "best." If they mean easiest to apply/lasts longer/easier to recoat, I agree with them. If they mean "looks better," I don't.

 

[Angela]

Found it at Home Depot, today. It's called a "1.5" paint scraper" for $6.97, made in China. You can sharpen the blade with a rasp, or you can buy a new blade for about $4. Not sure that I see the point of "sharp" since I'm not really cutting anything, but rather, I'm scraping soft, gooey stuff. Oh well, it's in my tool box now.

 

[bobk]

Found it at Home Depot, today. It's called a "1.5" paint scraper" for $6.97, made in China. You can sharpen the blade with a rasp, or you can buy a new blade for about $4. Not sure that I see the point of "sharp" since I'm not really cutting anything, but rather, I'm scraping soft, gooey stuff. Oh well, it's in my tool box now.

Ang, while you are removing soft, gooey stuff, the blade is working against teak which is really tough on steel blades. You can get these scraper blades in carbide as well. Saves lots of sharpening.

Bobk

 

[sgharford]

Try this little number - the blade lasts for years. It's one of the best tools in the tool box: http://www.jamestowndistributors.co...lyName=Bahco+/+Sandvik+Two+Hand+Ergo+Scrapers

 

[Avenger]

the' re called "cabinet Scrapers.

Art

You're right.

That's either my faulty memory or the guy who loaned them to me called them the wrong thing.

 

[bobk]

Try this little number - the blade lasts for years. It's one of the best tools in the tool box: http://www.jamestowndistributors.co...lyName=Bahco+/+Sandvik+Two+Hand+Ergo+Scrapers

Cheaper here.

http://www.rockler.com/handled-carbide-scraper

They can also be had in more complex shapes, but they are not carbide.

Bobk

 

[Plan B2]

Ang, Jim;
Thank for the information on the scapper you use. I thought that would be it, just wanted to benefit from your experiences.
I have been using Formbey's furniture refinisher on the interior surfaces, followed by the Watco teak oil. I like the oiled satin look so no varnish inside. I haven't tackled any of the exterior brite work. It has a heavy clear product slathered onto it. Very sloppy job by a PO but effectively is protecting the wood while I work through the long list of projects. I like the imron concept and will follow your post to see how it holds up.

 

[Vincentc]

We are about half through with the refinish project. All of the saloon and the bottom half of the aft cabin are done. It did not lighten as much as I hoped but things look cleaner and brighter. Most important, the wife and daughters approve. The wall looks does look good with the right highlight.