Replies

1. 
   forestgirl | May 16, 2007 07:40am | #1

   Formby's refinisher is nothing more than denatured alcohol, and lacquer thinner with a well-designed label.  You can mix your own, 50/50 or whatever variation works the best.  Won't take paint off though.  Perhaps you can soften that up and remove it first?

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 
   
2. 
   Dave45 | May 16, 2007 04:41pm | #2

   If the paint is from the 50's, it's probably oil based and would be very brittle by now.  Try some careful scraping to see if it will flake off.  (I have a 1" wide Red Devil paint scraper that I use for this kind of job.) 

   The original finish may be plain old varnish, but it's probably been touched up (or redone) multiple times over the years and it's anybody's guess what may have been used.

   When customers ask me about restoring old millwork, my usual response is to ask them why they want to restore it.  It's often much easier (i.e. less $$) to just replace it.

3. 
   Gretchen | May 16, 2007 08:38pm | #3

   If you were lucky, it might be latex and won't ammonia remove latex?

   The wood color (kind of wood) could be just the darkening of a varnish finsh. HOw much of this is there? You might try some stripper and see what happens. It will also remove the paint splashes.

   Have you tried vigorously washing the woodwork with mineral spirits?

   As ForestGirl has said, all Homer was was a marketer.

   Gretchen
4. 
   Quickstep | May 17, 2007 12:38am | #4

   There are a couple of test you can perform to find out what the finish is. Regardless the finish, Mineral spirits and a scotch brite pad will remove the surface dirt without dissolving the finish. Once you've got it clean, take a Q-Tip and dip it in some denatured alcohol. Swab it around on an inconspicuous area. If some finish comes off on the Q-Tip, the finish is shellac. If not, it's varnish or some variant of varnish. Shellac can be "restored" by brushing over it with thinned shellac, or just plain alcohol. Behlen makes an amalgamator that will sort of do the same thing with Varnish. Unless the darkness is purely surface dirt, neither will lighten years of darkened finish. My house is a 60's version with woodwork that defines the phrase "run of the mill". I would love to have a house with old moulding that has darkened varnish with some patina. Maybe you could learn to cherish it. I think you'd end up destroying the moulding in the process of removing it. Price out replacing it before you take that leap.

1. 
   waljay | May 17, 2007 02:01pm | #5

   Quickstep:  Thank you for your in-depth advice.  You are correct; the wood trim on this house represents craftsmanship that has long since gone, and very worth the effort to restore it.  I will do what you suggested.  Several people responded to my inquiry with helpful hints, all of which were appreciated, especially the Formby information! Thank you all for your assistance.  

1. 
   Gretchen | May 17, 2007 02:27pm | #6

   I don't know where you are located but I live in a house built in the 50's.  Part of the "craftmanship" is the moldings, etc. that were routinely available then. I would be amazed if the finish on the woodwork was shellac.  I grew up before the 50's in a house that was remodelled by my father and even he didn't use shellac on the cherry panelling of our kitchen and den.I think shellac could be a product of the Arts and Crafts era.

   Gretchen

   Edited 5/17/2007 7:28 am ET by Gretchen

1. 
   zolton | May 17, 2007 05:43pm | #7

   Before you go much further, pick up a bottle of "Goof Off" liquid from a local hardware or home center. It's made to remove hardened latex paint from wood trim - exactly the situation you say you're in.

   Goof Off won't soften oil based paint. But if some of the paint is latex - and it's likely that some is, given the age of the home - then it would be worth a few bucks to see if this product will work for you.

   Zolton

5. 
   stantheman | May 18, 2007 04:30am | #8

   like Zolton said, Goof Off or lacquer thinner will remove latex paint if that's what it is.