How to re-paint interior wood handrails

Hello,

I want to re-paint the wood handrail on my interior stairs. Could someone please suggest step by step instruction? like sand it down,what kinna of paint to use and etc.

Thanks in advance!

 

What kind of finish is currently on the handrail? http://www.doityourself.com/forum/pa...latex-oil.html

If you are using the same type of coating, all you need to do is lightly sand, remove any sanding dust and paint. If the finish is either poly or oil base, you need to sand, apply a solvent base primer, lightly sand again and then apply your choice of paint.

 

when i painted my spindles and hand rails at the top of my staircase i just gentley sanded down then painted, after allowing to dry a painted again just for same measure so they had 2 coats of paint.

 

The current finish looks like Clear Semi-Gloss Polyurethane to me and I would like to keep it the same. I like the natural looks of the wood.

Should I use water-based or oil-based poly?
what does the solvent base primer do?
how to fix the cracks on it? Use wood filler?

Thanks!

 

You would only use a primer if you want to change the wood from natural/stain to paint. If you want to just freshen up the poly coat all you need to do is sand lightly with 180 or 220 grit and apply a fresh coat of poly. If the current poly is oil base - you need to stick with oil base poly. Water based poly doesn't adhere all that well to oil base poly.

Any cracks or nail holes can be filled with colored putty. Do this before you sand.

 

marksr, thanks for your prompt response!

How to tell if the current poly is water or oil based?

Two links below are the pictures of the handrail and the 2nd picture shows the crack. So colored putty work better than wood filler?



DSC00971.jpg picture by susuezhao1 - Photobucket

DSC00978.jpg picture by susuezhao1 - Photobucket

 

A little hard to tell by the pic if it's oil or water based although oil base poly will yellow some as it ages. While I've never tried it on poly, the directions on the link in my first post should help.

The crack can be filled with putty fairly easy and be made fairly invisible but the chip on the side will be difficult to make disappear About the only 2 choices are to either sand it down smooth and restain or fill it with a stainable wood filler. Wood filler would be the best way to make it level but it might be difficult to make the repair invisible. It might take some fauz painting to hide the repair.

 

marsr,

I am adding more pictures below. Can you tell the current coat is poly or paint? thanks!

DSC00978.jpg picture by susuezhao1 - Photobucket

DSC00971.jpg picture by susuezhao1 - Photobucket

DSC00971.jpg picture by susuezhao1 - Photobucket

 

You have a 'pickle' stain. I think it has oil base poly over it but can't say for sure.

 

marksr,
Thank you very much for your help!