Carpentry and Woodworking - White wash banister

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joele8
11-12-07, 05:37 AM
Hi everyone, I am trying to refinish my banister, it is currently whitewash. I would like to it to be more of a natural color, oak, walnut etc... Is it possible to remove the white wash so I can apply a stain? If so, how is it done? I do not have the $ to replace everything. The spindles are painted white and I will probably leave them that color.

Thanks
Joel:thinker:

chandler
11-12-07, 06:20 AM
Joel: I had good luck removing the whitewash on a customer's deck using a pressure washer with a wide spread path. Not sure it would work on yours, but worth a shot.
mitch17
11-12-07, 06:55 AM
The pressure washer could be used, you'd just have to protect the spindles first to keep them as is.

joele8
11-12-07, 09:11 AM
Sorry, I guess I should have mention that this is on my staircase inside my home. Pressure washing would be out, would a standard stripper work?

Thanks
Joel
chandler
11-12-07, 04:43 PM
Naw, reckon it would matter? What part is whitewashed? Just the handrail and newel posts? If so, you may be able to remove it with a rag dampened with Methyl Ethyl Keytone (MEK). I don't think anything stronger would be necessary, such as lacquer thinner.
marksr
11-12-07, 05:23 PM
Is it a white wash or a pickle stain with poly/varnish over it?

Poly or varnish will require a stripper to remove it.
joele8
11-12-07, 06:16 PM
It appears to be a whitewash, does not look like any varnish on it.

It is just the handrails, the posts are painted white. I take it MEK is available at Home Depot.

Thanks for the replies.

Joel
chandler
11-13-07, 04:34 AM
Yes, you can get the MEK at HD. I prefer it due to its flash point, as opposed to thinners. Still ventilate the area if you use it for the stripping.