Tuesday, December 09, 2008

Advice to Those Who Would Strip 90 Years of Paint from Crown Molding in Their Bedroom:

It is harder and shittier than you think it is, even if you think it is hard and shitty to begin with.

Use more stripping gel than you think necessary. Buy more stripping gel than you think you will need. Leave it on longer than you think you should.

Work in smaller areas than you think you should - it's better to have a smaller area completed and still have some energy left than to not be able to finish the area you planned to because it's late, you're tired, hungry, and damn sick of this project.

Put huge tarps over everything.

Ventilate.

Fall asleep thinking about how awesome it is going to be when you're done with this whole shitty project.

Buy more "after wash" (aka, turpentine) than you think is necessary.

If possible, live 11 blocks away from the downtown Manhattan Home Depot.

(Guess what I've been doing? Since Saturday? Did I spend 3 hours scraping today? Did I wake up at 7am and put the THIRD ROUND of gel on the window frame I'm trying to strip? Did I rush home at 5 and start scrapping it off? Did I stop at 9 to go to dinner - and hurry to clean up in time for that? Will I have to do at least 6 more sessions? BLEAH.)

9 comments:

Jay Ferris said...

I would like to add the suggestion of picking up a few illegals whilst at the Depot.

Marcia said...

but that would negate the whole "doing it by ourselves because it's our house and we're awesome" thing. Also, the economy = shitty.

Anonymous said...

Seriously, just give in and paint over the old stuff. No need for the brain damage.

Anonymous said...

Welcome to the wonderful world of home ownership!

I'm a reformed stripper in Toledo who now sandpapers woodwork and repaints it.

And, when you think I'm finally losing my mind, it is not dementia but toxic solvents from my stipping past...

Anonymous said...

My advice would have been to skip the paint stripper all together and go straight to your closest home improvement store and buy new crown molding...expensive yes, but it would have saved you a lot of time.

Timothy

J E S S I C A said...

bless your heart! i stripped paint off of some metal chairs once. i will NEVER do it again. i feel your pain.

Anonymous said...

D. would add: Stop every 20 minutes to complain bitterly about whoever painted the original woodwork in the first place.

SBC said...

WHY DO PEOPLE PAINT OVER WOODWORK!!?!?!?!

ARG

arg

breathe....

Chris Wilson said...

And to think I Googled "Stripping" expecting to see hot strippers.