Hi folks, I’m looking for some help, tips etc for removing and cleaning stains from 50 year old fir paneling. I’m renovating my house and it is finished almost exclusively in clear Fir. It has some water stains and just stains from use. I believe it is unfinished and has just aged to it’s current color/patina, but I could be wrong. I want to try to clean it before making the decision to sand it, which will be a huge undertaking. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! I’m also wondering if it can be lightly sanded… I’m attaching some photos. It’s a big project to say the least.
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Huge undertaking may be the understatement of the year. Unfortunately I think that will need more than just cleaning to remove those water stains. It also appears to have some pigmented stain and finish of some sorts to my eye looking at those pictures. All that says it will need to be sanded and restrained and varnish a job I would not want to undertake.
Thanks!! Yes, not a job anyone would want to undertake!! I agree the water stains will not come out with cleaning but there are some surfaces which have just sort of general dirt from hands, wear and tear. Could those be cleaned, maybe mineral spirits? I've tried some Murphy's but find that to be next to useless. Maybe I could just sand and re-stain the ceiling and deal with the walls another way. Here is the full monty of this room and it's not the only room with wood!
I'm not sure there is enough money to get me to do that job.
I suppose paint is out of the question?
Maybe there is some sort of soda-blasting that could gently strip it down to bare wood?
As above, I don't think any amount ofcleaning will help much. I think the only solution is to sand it down. Good luck.
Soda blasting could be the answer. It will be a messy process for sure but it would be 100 times faster than sanding.
Mold remediation people and those that clean charred interiors after fires now use a "sandblaster" that shoots tiny dry ice particles. Clean down to thebare wood, andthe dry ice literally disappears into thin air. I have no idea about the price, but I'd bet it isn't cheap. But money well spent to avoid all that sanding. And it would clean out every crack and crevice, unlike a sander.
after looking at the soda blasting online, I think it is the answer! Sanding is incredibly messy as well. Thanks!
It would neither clean it nor remove the stains, but a single coat of thinned orange shellac (the term is 'cut') might 'refresh' the fir. Would be worth trying on a non-visible section. If suitable to you, then it becomes a 'painting' project. Applying shellac also has it's own intracacies to be aware of.
So, I've found someone who suggests maybe glass blasting, he said the soda blasting could get gummy? But thanks so much for all of your input, I think I can get this project rolling. I have been pussyfooting around because it just seemed so daunting. These guys protect everything, clean up after. I am a DIY person but this just kind of tired me out just thinking about it!!
Glass beads are harder than the wood, I use them to clean and finish metal parts. I think penetration may be an issue using them on wood. It feels like "someone" might be nudging you towards his skillset. I don't see how the material could get gummy w/o introducing moisture, so maybe find someone familiar with the soda process first?
That is possible, these people do soda blasting as well, on boats etc, so it's not outside his skillset so to speak. I'll see what he comes up with, I too don't see how the soda could become gummy, something about the fineness and woodgrain, being a soft wood vs a hardwood.
I recommend cleaning with mineral spirits then shellac.
Open the windows the fumes will be heavy for a while. Best to do before winter sets in...
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