Replies

1. 
   paintergal | Sep 01, 2005 03:37pm | #1

   Soygel. No dust.

2. 
   PenobscotMan | Sep 01, 2005 03:59pm | #2

   About oak -- it is a very porous wood, and the pores absorb paint.  So, even if you strip the surface paint, you may get a very grainy effect as the paint in the spring wood (the part of the annual ring with the big pores) shows up.  I'd strip a bit before you commit to stripping the entire project, as you may be disappointed with the result.  Sorry for the pessimism.

3. 
   bluethumb | Sep 01, 2005 04:09pm | #3

   I stripped painted oak trim in my living room & dining room with excellent results.  It was unpleasant, tho.  I used a heat gun to strip the numerous coats of paint, and then used a methylene chloride stripper & 3M scrubber pad to remove residue and stuff soaked into the grain.

   MC strippers are nasty, but they work quickly.  I would suggest using a respirator while using it - it will also strip your brain.

   I have also used 3M Safest Strip which is apparently mild enough to use as a coffee creamer;  It works too, albeit taking a longer time to do its job, and it requires more elbow grease.

   Lotsa luck.  It is a labor-intensive project you have there, but you can make the stair beautiful again.

4. 
   BryanSayer | Sep 01, 2005 06:11pm | #4

   In terms of sucking pigment out of the pores, we had pretty good luck with Peel-Away. Any thick paste remover with a backing of some kind should do the same. For most things we have switched to Soygel. Works reasonably well, but haven't tried it on oak yet.