I know there's a few handy folks on this site who have probably done what I plan to do this coming weekend. I plan to strip off what's left of the old finish on my stairs, which are scuffed and scratched up, and re-stain them with enviro-friendly, homemade stain made from butternut hulls, tea and food colouring :-)
I've found what seems to be adequate instructions on how to do everything. I have some of that Circa 1850 orange-scented stuff, lots of paintbrushes to apply it with, a scraper to remove the old stuff with, a couple new belts for the sander (along with eye/ear protection and dust masks), mineral spirits (why I don't know, but I bought it anyway...I think to remove residual sawdust?) and a roll of shoptowel. And I have painter's tape and will have the stain made by then and a nice wide paintbrush to apply it with.
The only problem I really have is ventilation. I do have a fan on the woodstove (which should help the stain dry nicely) and in the kitchen, but am thinking it would make more sense to use the blower currently living in my den to help send the fumes upstairs and out the skylights...and apparently if you open the attic hatch, it'll help vent out the fumes too. The house's only bathroom is upstairs so I can have the fan going in there too.
So if anyone can give me some ideas as to what would help best with ventilation, that would be great!
Also, they do make a water based stripper as well, which is much less awful than the aircraft stripper, I'm unclear on which one you have.
Seems all the usual hardware store gamut of strippers are nasty toxic chemical crap that you need to use in a well-ventilated area with full protection. I have heard of a water-based stripper but don't know if it's locally available.
Also, be warned that a belt sander is a real challenge for something like this. They're somewhat difficult to control in a small run, making it pretty challenging to get a good job done on stairs with one. On the upside, they are damn fast.
You might consider a vibratory sander.. I like the dewalt a lot, they are so high frequency they don't hurt your hand.
I gots me a belt sander, Cory, and I know how to use it...though the vibratory sander sounds like fun, too ;-) I know I'll have to be careful with it and if the belt does get to be too much then I can always go with ye olde sanding block and elbow grease.
The vibratory sander, like the cordless cheapo Ryobis that Home Depot sell are FABULOUS for getting into corners and tight places (Like the risers) that the belt sander won't be able to get near.
Also, be warned that a belt sander is a real challenge for something like this. They're somewhat difficult to control in a small run, making it pretty challenging to get a good job done on stairs with one. On the upside, they are damn fast.
You might consider a vibratory sander.. I like the dewalt a lot, they are so high frequency they don't hurt your hand.
If you are considering using a belt sander make certain that you know... what kind of wood you are dealing with, the grain of the wood and NOT to run counter the grain unless you want to deal with some rather impressive marks in the wood.
If your stairs are made of a soft wood, forget about the belt sander altogether... not worth the risks.
If you need scrapers a fan and other stuff, let me know since I have oodles of equipment.
The vibratory sander, like the cordless cheapo Ryobis that Home Depot sell are FABULOUS for getting into corners and tight places (Like the risers) that the belt sander won't be able to get near.
Actually I think I do have one....let me go rummage round in my equipment bin *rummaging*...oh fribbous joy, I DO have a vibrator err, vibratory one! Will have to get some of those little squares of sandpaper and have to match the pattern of holes.
Sadly a fan in an upstairs window won't help, cause although I have six huge windows downstairs - three on each side, it's a former schoolhouse - upstairs the closest one to the top of the stairs is a round bulls-eye window that doesn't open, and the rest are all skylights in the various bedrooms.
Spoke to the guy who built my stairs and he's pretty sure they're pine. They do ding and scratch up pretty easily.
The vibratory sander, like the cordless cheapo Ryobis that Home Depot sell are FABULOUS for getting into corners and tight places (Like the risers) that the belt sander won't be able to get near.
Actually I think I do have one....let me go rummage round in my equipment bin *rummaging*...oh fribbous joy, I DO have a vibrator err, vibratory one! Will have to get some of those little squares of sandpaper and have to match the pattern of holes.
Sadly a fan in an upstairs window won't help, cause although I have six huge windows downstairs - three on each side, it's a former schoolhouse - upstairs the closest one to the top of the stairs is a round bulls-eye window that doesn't open, and the rest are all skylights in the various bedrooms.
Spoke to the guy who built my stairs and he's pretty sure they're pine. They do ding and scratch up pretty easily.
Give Unca Raymee a call... he has all kinds of equipment (used to work construction remember) and if your stairs are pine, the use of a belt sander is a definite no no. Would not work properly anyways since you would never get in close enough to the edges.
Cory - you're right, when I took the old sandpaper off the vibratory I saw that I had punched in the holes myself. I may go with your ventilation solution but I thought it would make more sense to try and vent it upstairs. I have a woodstove going downstairs and the fan on that will be pushing up the stairwell so I figured going up would work best.
Unca Rayme...now that you mention it, do you happen to have a respirator with a new or newish cartridge or whatever they have in them? Otherwise I'm good for everything else in terms of supplies and did find my old vibratory sander, which I originally got when I was doing my floor...needless to say that's why I soon bought a belt sander!
One more question. How necessary is stripping, really? It isn't like I'm taking ten layers of paint or heavy varnish off. Can't I just sand everything off, after all I now have a lot of 40-60 grit sandpaper. And is using mineral spirits also necessary? I hate using harsh chemicals of any kind in the course of my work and hobbies, so I don't really want to expose myself if there is no need.
ETA Unca Raymee, I can never seem to keep track of your phone #. Can you please PM it to me again?
Try just sanding it off in a small spot, if that works then there's no need for the stripper, in fact it may be significantly easier..
The mineral spirits as a wipe down before staining can be helpful to ensure that you have an even surface without oils or things like that on it which may affect the penetration of the stain.
Also, do turn off the wood stove fan to help vent. And if you're using mineral spirits or other flammable volitiles, you need to douse the stove and put out your pilot lights.
Don't have pilot lights but of course I have the woodstove...so the cats and I have to freeze when using the mineral spirits? Really?
Did some sanding today on the staircase, on just one riser. Had I used only the vib I would still be up there sanding away. But, I still have the belt sander, so I used it to get off the bulk of the old stain and used the vib on the corners and edges. Still it's only about 95% done. Need to get some heavier grit sandpaper for the vib.
Don't have pilot lights but of course I have the woodstove...so the cats and I have to freeze when using the mineral spirits? Really?
Well, the alternative is blowing a shitload of air through the house, so you're pretty much screwed either way.
And if that stain is oil based, you're going to want to vent - but I'm guessing it's water based, given then ingredient list, so you can forego the ventilation if that's the case.
As for the belt sander, you're a brave girl! Well done, that's tricky for sure.
I'm about to see if there's an envirofriendly alternative to mineral spirits for that reason alone. If I only need mineral spirits as little more than a simple wipe-down product, they why wouldn't something like plain ol white vinegar work just as well?
Stain is water-based and actually should look really nice once everything's done...and damned easy to touch up :-)
As for the belt sander? I ain't afraid of no stinkin belt sander! I used it to strip my wood floor way back in the day when I first bought my house, so it's not like I don't know how powerful it is or how to use it. Besides, I've not only got a lot of upper-body strength, I'm also the one with the finger on the trigger.
I'm about to see if there's an envirofriendly alternative to mineral spirits for that reason alone. If I only need mineral spirits as little more than a simple wipe-down product, they why wouldn't something like plain ol white vinegar work just as well?
Because, especially with a water based stain, you need a surface with evenly distributed oils, even your hands and sweat will leave places where the stain will penetrate differently otherwise.
So, you need a strong solvent, the only friendlier option is alcohol, or maybe soap, but you'd want to rinse well, and let dry with that option.
But I don't think I need a strong solvent. I only bought the mineral spirits thinking that they were requisite, but if they're not, I'd rather avoid using it altogether. I assume you're talking ethyl alcohol? Isn't that just as nasty as mineral spirits?
I gots me a belt sander, Cory, and I know how to use it...though the vibratory sander sounds like fun, too ;-) I know I'll have to be careful with it and if the belt does get to be too much then I can always go with ye olde sanding block and elbow grease.
good for corners and edges...why not go elnatural with the stairs n just seal them...that's what we have on our wood floors. Never have stained them but have re-finished a couple times now.
I gots me a belt sander, Cory, and I know how to use it...though the vibratory sander sounds like fun, too ;-) I know I'll have to be careful with it and if the belt does get to be too much then I can always go with ye olde sanding block and elbow grease.
good for corners and edges...why not go elnatural with the stairs n just seal them...that's what we have on our wood floors. Never have stained them but have re-finished a couple times now.
Not a bad idea re just sealing them...but then I'll have glow-in-the-dark stairs, they're pine so are sanding up very very light! Also is the sealant toxic at all?
