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#1
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Removing gummy carpet padding from wood floors.
I have an old (1912) house with pine or fir wood floors
and I think shellac finish over stain. We just removed some ~20 year old carpet and padding, and the floor doesn't look too horrible, so we would like to preserve as much of the original finish as possible. We are using mineral spirits to remove the gummy pad stains, but it is not coming off too easily. We have about a 1x4' area completed in 3 hours, and you can still see some of the spots. They even seem to look grey or white (dried out) instead of looking like the surrounding finish. I tested the finish with water, and in the corners it will bead up with no white spots, so I do not think there is much if any wax buildup. The high traffic areas do not bead, but will soak in and darken the wood. We have tried plastic scrapers to no avail. Fingernails seem to do the best job. Acetone removes the finish and lightens the wood. Eventually we would like to apply a coat of paste wax to add some protection and shine to the floor. Any ideas or suggestions? Jay and Kelli |
#2
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Scrape off the gunk. Sand to bare wood. Refinish.
Now that you've used mineral spirits on some areas, you'll need to do the above to get a consistent finish. No way around it. wrote in message oups.com... I have an old (1912) house with pine or fir wood floors and I think shellac finish over stain. We just removed some ~20 year old carpet and padding, and the floor doesn't look too horrible, so we would like to preserve as much of the original finish as possible. We are using mineral spirits to remove the gummy pad stains, but it is not coming off too easily. We have about a 1x4' area completed in 3 hours, and you can still see some of the spots. They even seem to look grey or white (dried out) instead of looking like the surrounding finish. I tested the finish with water, and in the corners it will bead up with no white spots, so I do not think there is much if any wax buildup. The high traffic areas do not bead, but will soak in and darken the wood. We have tried plastic scrapers to no avail. Fingernails seem to do the best job. Acetone removes the finish and lightens the wood. Eventually we would like to apply a coat of paste wax to add some protection and shine to the floor. Any ideas or suggestions? Jay and Kelli |
#4
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wrote in message oups.com... I have an old (1912) house with pine or fir wood floors and I think shellac finish over stain. We just removed some ~20 year old carpet and padding, and the floor doesn't look too horrible, so we would like to preserve as much of the original finish as possible. (snip) You have my sympathy. About ten years ago I had to do the same thing except the kind soul who installed the carpet (It was in one piece and even went into the kitchen, laundry and toilet!) actually glued it to the floor. I tried any number of solvents, the only thing that would disolve the glue was petrol (gasoline). The scraper I used was a spade. I managed to do one room but gave up on the idea and just put linoleum down and then we sold the house. After that I suggested to my local MP that there be an amendment to the criminal code to create a new offence 'Criminal Renovation' penalty 15 years. Mekon |
#6
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I've used WD 40 many times to remove all sorts of glue you might test an
inconspicuous area and see if that works Bob wrote in message oups.com... I have an old (1912) house with pine or fir wood floors and I think shellac finish over stain. We just removed some ~20 year old carpet and padding, and the floor doesn't look too horrible, so we would like to preserve as much of the original finish as possible. We are using mineral spirits to remove the gummy pad stains, but it is not coming off too easily. We have about a 1x4' area completed in 3 hours, and you can still see some of the spots. They even seem to look grey or white (dried out) instead of looking like the surrounding finish. I tested the finish with water, and in the corners it will bead up with no white spots, so I do not think there is much if any wax buildup. The high traffic areas do not bead, but will soak in and darken the wood. We have tried plastic scrapers to no avail. Fingernails seem to do the best job. Acetone removes the finish and lightens the wood. Eventually we would like to apply a coat of paste wax to add some protection and shine to the floor. Any ideas or suggestions? Jay and Kelli |
#7
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try Goo-Gone; I have used it to remove old duct tape gum from a wood floor.
Goo-Gone is to gum removal what WD40 is to stuck bolts.... http://www.magicamerican.com/googone.shtml ------------------------------------------ "Rick" wrote in message news Scrape off the gunk. Sand to bare wood. Refinish. Now that you've used mineral spirits on some areas, you'll need to do the above to get a consistent finish. No way around it. wrote in message oups.com... I have an old (1912) house with pine or fir wood floors and I think shellac finish over stain. We just removed some ~20 year old carpet and padding, and the floor doesn't look too horrible, so we would like to preserve as much of the original finish as possible. We are using mineral spirits to remove the gummy pad stains, but it is not coming off too easily. We have about a 1x4' area completed in 3 hours, and you can still see some of the spots. They even seem to look grey or white (dried out) instead of looking like the surrounding finish. I tested the finish with water, and in the corners it will bead up with no white spots, so I do not think there is much if any wax buildup. The high traffic areas do not bead, but will soak in and darken the wood. We have tried plastic scrapers to no avail. Fingernails seem to do the best job. Acetone removes the finish and lightens the wood. Eventually we would like to apply a coat of paste wax to add some protection and shine to the floor. Any ideas or suggestions? Jay and Kelli |
#8
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Don't laugh at this idea...try some Pam the kitchen spray...you see I sell
hotwheels on ebay and some of the price stickers from some of the older ones that I bought were a bear to remove without damaging the card and just a little pam on a rag and gently rub and the glue comes off the cardboard and the clear plastic that the hotwheel is displayed in...works every time Tina "BoborAnn" wrote in message ... I've used WD 40 many times to remove all sorts of glue you might test an inconspicuous area and see if that works Bob wrote in message oups.com... I have an old (1912) house with pine or fir wood floors and I think shellac finish over stain. We just removed some ~20 year old carpet and padding, and the floor doesn't look too horrible, so we would like to preserve as much of the original finish as possible. We are using mineral spirits to remove the gummy pad stains, but it is not coming off too easily. We have about a 1x4' area completed in 3 hours, and you can still see some of the spots. They even seem to look grey or white (dried out) instead of looking like the surrounding finish. I tested the finish with water, and in the corners it will bead up with no white spots, so I do not think there is much if any wax buildup. The high traffic areas do not bead, but will soak in and darken the wood. We have tried plastic scrapers to no avail. Fingernails seem to do the best job. Acetone removes the finish and lightens the wood. Eventually we would like to apply a coat of paste wax to add some protection and shine to the floor. Any ideas or suggestions? Jay and Kelli |
#9
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Put a drop of alcohol on the floor and test it for softening in a few
minutes to confirm it is shellac. If it is use alcohol to remove the shellac under the padding. Shellac and lacquer melt previous coats forming a single coat of finish unlike varnish that builds layers of finish as it doesn't melt previous coats. When floor is clean I'd use dewaxed shellac as the finish as it was used for years prior to varnish. Easy repair unlike varnish. It can be obtained in several "colors" depending on steps during processing. Look for the color variations of shellac at www.homesteadfinishing.com On 11 Jun 2005 12:55:39 -0700, wrote: I have an old (1912) house with pine or fir wood floors and I think shellac finish over stain. We just removed some ~20 year old carpet and padding, and the floor doesn't look too horrible, so we would like to preserve as much of the original finish as possible. We are using mineral spirits to remove the gummy pad stains, but it is not coming off too easily. We have about a 1x4' area completed in 3 hours, and you can still see some of the spots. They even seem to look grey or white (dried out) instead of looking like the surrounding finish. I tested the finish with water, and in the corners it will bead up with no white spots, so I do not think there is much if any wax buildup. The high traffic areas do not bead, but will soak in and darken the wood. We have tried plastic scrapers to no avail. Fingernails seem to do the best job. Acetone removes the finish and lightens the wood. Eventually we would like to apply a coat of paste wax to add some protection and shine to the floor. Any ideas or suggestions? Jay and Kelli |
#10
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Everyone, thanks for your replies!
FYI, the Pam and WD-40 did not work, but the Pam left a nice shiny finish and a buttery smell The alcohol removed the stain and the finish. We will try the steel wool and MS tomorrow. Either way, the finish is "unsound" and needs repair. I am thinking another coat of shellac will do the trick. I'll let ya know how things develop. |
#11
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