i found some mohagany doors in this house i bought they have been in the attic for about 60 years i'm told

Question

well i want to strp and restain them trouble is they have this "ALIGATOR TYPE PATTERN "and it clogs the sand paper i think it might be shellac or varnish how can i get it off can you smart people here tell me what i can use or referme to a site ?

Answer 1

Use Bix stripper on them. It's a professional stripper you use on wood. You brush it on and wait. You then use a putty knife to remove it. It will remove paint, varnish, shellac, stain, etc. Just take your time and be sure to save the used Bix for any additional areas you need to treat. When all of the material you want removed from the doors is off, use a small hand sander on a low setting to smooth out the rough edges. Then wash the doors down with a damp rag or sponge. Let them dry and you are ready to finish them.

Answer 2

You could have the doors professionally stripped, making sure they are using a 'cold'or solvent stripper, aka methylene chloride liquid stripper,or you could strip them yourself if you had a suitable stripper. This provides a clean light uniform surface to refinish upon. Search out a real red mahogany oil base stain-its hard to find a nice red, and finish with Clear Sanding Sealer, because it refracts light like shellac. two coats they dry FAST,fine sand third coat, beautiful! A pair I did is at www.paintbusters.com/examples. I don't sell sealer, but I use it ,applied by spray gun or sometimes brush on every interior project, and every paint store has Clear Sanding (sandable) Sealer.

Answer 3

If the doors are that old the finish is most defenitly shellac. You can use a mild paint and vasnish stripper or mediun steel wool dipped in denatured alcohol. Do not use too strong a stripper or too course steel wool or you will ruin the wood surface.

In either case do the job in a welll venitilated area and wear rubber gloves

Answer 4

I'd have this professionally done - the way they take paint and varnish off in a stripping shop is so much better, less destructive, more complete, than anything you can do. Look under refinishing or something in the phone book.

In South Georgia, I use a guy - Strip-Eze - very professional

Answer 5

If you can afford it, take them to a professional who will dip them in a bath of stripper. It's worth it to get the right finish on them.

Answer 6

I have found the best way is to have them dipped. Talk to your local paint shops to find who does this in your area. Good luck.