Folks –
I’m working on a 1930’s vintage colonial. It has killer bird’s eye window and door trim in the living room and den that seems to have been waxed to a fair-thee-well over the years. We’ve decided to leave that alone, except the window sills, which have been sun- and water-damaged to the point where there is some dark scattered staining, and the finish is essentially “powdering” such that a light swipe with 00 steel wool loosens most of it but not all of it into a fine dust. It doesn’t appear as if the sills themselves have been waxed, just the casings. Without trying to take things down to raw wood, does anybody have any suggestions as to how to protect the sills from further damage. An exact color match to the rest of the trim is probably impossible and not necessary according to the owner. Approximation is sufficient. After steelwooling off everything that will come, I’m thinking of wiping on a mixture of 1/3 clear satin poly, 1/3 boiled linseed oil and 1/3 gum turp. Des anybody have any thoughts about that….. or a better solution? Thanks. MarkFitz
Replies
Mark,
If the finish is powdering, it is completely broken down and non existent. You expressed a hesitance to go down to the bare wood. For all intents and purposes that's where you are.
I suggest you finish cleaning it off as required and start with a fresh surface.
Concerning the three part mixture you mentioned and this is just my opinion; I can never understand why everyone feels the finishing wheel must be reinvented with these homemade brews.What you mentioned will be very slow drying and offer, at best, minimal protection.
If you want a close to the grain finish, you can use waterlox, watco, minwax antique oil etc. These are all very thin varnishes that are meant to be wiped on and have the excess wiped off.
If you want more surface build a brushing varnish would be my next choice. Some to consider would be McCloskey, Pratt and Lambert. I've used spar varnishes on window sills that get a great deal of sunlight for the added UV protection.
I don't use them but if you want to use satin poly all it might require is a little thinner and you can use it as is.
Keep it simple.
Peter
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