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Tue 24 Aug, 2010 12:21 pm
Hi Guys
I know this seems like a really silly question, but I am at a loss what to do, and have tried ever conventional method. Let me explain. I have mobility issues, and was provided with a wooden hand rail going up my stairs, some years ago. They were treated with a clear varnish.
Every couple of weeks or so, I wipe these down, with either a cleaning solution like Flash, or Washing up liquid. Over the last two weeks, they have been getting sticky to the touch, very sticky, now I have no young children or anyone with sticky hands, yet the rails feel like I have painted them with honey.
I have tried Flash, Cif/Jif. Washing Up Liquid, Turps, A solution of turps and oil and water. and nothing helps. I have tried scrubbing them with the green side of a sponge . The stickiness remains
Would another coat of clear satin varnish help, or would I still feel the stickiness. Do they need to be sanded down again What about sugar soap ?
Its going to be me doing the work, hence me hoping to find some ideas before I embark on what will be a for me a tricky job.
Any ideas or suggestions would really be appreciated. Take care all
Not that I know anything.... but..... I'd wait until the air has been dry for some time and then put another coat of varnish on it. Afterward, I would not use any cleaning solution unless I checked it was safe to use on a varnished surface.
@deedee87,
I sent a link to your question to our resident hardware store expert. Hopefully, he'll be along in the next day or two to give you his wisdom.
@littlek,
Thank you littlek, for taking the time to reply. Will for sure double check my cleaning products before using them on varnished wood. That didnt occur to me at all
) Its good to know that I may be able to re-varnish over the sticky wood if I need to0. Thank you again
@Butrflynet,
Butrflynet that would be great, I really appreciate that, when I have mentioned and shown this to family etc, they cannot understand why the wood is staying sticky, even though, I have been cleaning it like crazy these past few days.
Thank you again. Take care
I have had this happen with wood cabinets that had been varnished years ago. I believe it was 409 that I tried to clean them with. Some cleaners do soften some finishes, and I suspect that is what happened here. As I recall, they didn't stay tacky forever.
@roger,
BBB has a similar problem with her kitchen cabinets. When I moved here a year ago, I went through and cleaned out and reorganized all her kitchen cabinets. There were several in the lower cabinets that had baking dishes stuck to them so badly I had to use a steamer to loosen it enough to pry the glass dishes off without breaking them.
A year later, the same problem has occurred. I'm now going to do the project again, but lining the shelves with contact paper. I'm wondering if maybe the dishes might have been put away wet and that is enough to dissolve the varnish and make it so sticky.
Will be interested in what Joe Nation has to say about all this.
@roger,
Hi Roger, Thank you for taking the time to answer, And its good to know this has happened to someone else
) Its been about 2 weeks now, and its getting more sticky if that's possible. Fingers crossed all the wood needs then is time, hopefully. Thank you again. Take care
Problems is getting solved now, getting a replacement hand rail fitted. Thank you all for the replies. Take care
@deedee87,
Wow. Depending on the mobility issues, I might have gone so far as to sand the upper surfaces. Sure hope you didn't let them varnish the new rail
Mostly, when I'm working on untreated wood, I will treat it with Watco Teak Oil. It's a very natural looking finish, and I have never seen it get sticky once it has dried. Even untalented me can get good results. Varnish or paint is probably longer lasting, but I favor the oil finish anyway.
@roger,
Hi Roger, They are going to completely replace it next Friday
) and this Saturday, hopefully , legs allowing, I am off to my local Wood shop to buy some kind of wax, or oil so they don't get a chance to use the clear varnish again. Have to be honest, but sanding would take for ever, because my hands play up a lot. Its a shame, as the hand rails is lovely, and of course did the job but is just ruined because of the stickiness.
Take care
Dee
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