Ready for something new
One thing I like about house projects is that they vary quite a bit. Right now I don’t like the project I’m working on and will be glad to move on to the next project. My current project is stripping the nook windows.
We are trying to keep as many of our original windows as possible. So I removed the windows from the frame and got started. First I removed as much paint as I could with the heat gun. The paint along the sides came off pretty well, but I was concerned about using the heat gun close to the glass. I removed a little bit of the paint and very old putty from the small pieces along side the glass, being very careful. This was an extremely slow process and I was afraid that I would hurt the glass. So this morning I put a coat of chemical stripper on one window, put it in a garbage bag and then prayed that it would become a simple project. Soon I remembered how much of a mess it was to refinish the staircase. It had been about a year which must be the time span for forgetting what a painful process it is! After removing the window from the door, the paint was coming off pretty well, but there was a big mess smeared all over the window. I scraped and cleaned up best I could with the after wash and steel wool. Some of the putty was coming off with a razor blade and in a couple of spots it would pop right off. I’d carefully put the razorblade between the putty and glass and then apply a little pressure and about an inch of putty would come off of the glass and leave a nice clean strip of wood. Other spots the putty wouldn’t budge, but along the bottom half of the window it was working pretty well. I was making good progress along one side and was getting about ½ in sections off at a time on one side. I moved the razor blade, did the exact same thing as before and CRACK! I put a small crack in the glass. So- now I’m thinking of going back to the heat gun after all the chemical stuff has dried and hopefully I won’t catch anything on fire. I wish I had a big vat of chemicals I could just dip this window in, go to bed, and find that there was only bare wood when I woke up! The worst part is that we’re painting these windows and they don’t need to be perfect. When the putty started coming off and it was old and crumbly I knew that needed to be replaced. Now one pane of glass will need to be replaced and the entire window will probably have to come apart. Maybe that will amke it easier to refinish. This project is going to take me forever! Anyone have better luck with windows than I’m having? I’ll ship my windows to you & you can show me how it’s done if you like!
2 Comments
Derek·July 26, 2005
That sucks about the glass. I wish I had old windows to refinish, or maybe I don’t. There’s only about 6 original windows in our house. At least it doesn’t have to be perfect, since you’re repainting.
Jocelyn·July 26, 2005
I’ve stripped 2 original windows in our house. One is in our pantry and I stripped it in place, which was challenging. I am not sure if our original windows are poplar or pine, but whatever they are, the wood was awfully soft compared to oak. It was hard not to gouge it.
Anyway, we wanted to replace the glass so it wasn’t a big deal if I cracked it but I don’t think I did. The 2nd one I did was the transom and I cracked it. Then we decided to put stained glass in it. Again, the soft wood was a pain. Restoring and stripping old windows is not a job for the faint of heart- takes stamina- but I know you have that!
Bungalow Addict and HiP and Enon Hall I think have done the most- I bet they’ll have some ideas. I think the “pros” use vats and I have contemplated making a vat myself, but we haven’t gone that way so far.
I have a window to strip in our entry that I will be doing in place as it’s over our entry door and I don’t want to remove it. I am planning to use stripper to avoid cracking it- please oh please! I’ll post when I get to it.