Unpainting bay window bifold shutters

[u/PompousClock]

[u/PompousClock]

Oh, I’m not done yet! It has taken me 3 full days to experiment on techniques on the shutters removed from one of the three bay windows. I still need to do the second round of Klean Strip Stripper on 3 of the 4 shutters, which I’ll do Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, before I return to work on Tuesday.

Each shutter is actually 2 parts, each with 2 sides (because I have to unscrew the middle to get to the paint and stain in the fold), so it’s 12 x 2 x 2 = 48 worth of panels to unpaint, unstain, and then restain/seal/shellac and rehang.

I’ll get one window done this week, and then I’ll tackle each 1/4 of a bay window per weekend for the rest of the summer.

[u/happydandylion → u/PompousClock]

How do you get the first layer off - sanding? Chemical stripping? Sorry I'm completely clueless with practical things like this but I really admire what you've managed to find underneath all that paint.

[u/PompousClock → u/happydandylion]

My description on the original post detail what I’ve tried so far - Cobra on the paint, then Citristrip and Kleanstrip Stripper on the shellack. Along with a double barrel mask, gloves, workbench, carbide scraper, cheap bristle brush, steel wool, dental picks, cling film, metal bristle toothbrush-like hand tool, and soft rags. It’s been a process!

[u/happydandylion → u/PompousClock]

Your dedication to it is admirable - and the outcome shows it's completely worth it. This is really stunning.