Hi all, would love some feedback as I have managed with lots of hard work to nearly strip the paint from the bannisters. I was wondering if I have to completely strip every trace of paint before I have to varnish stain? Also I have some paintwork with this brown tar like paint that just goes like tar when heated with gun and can't get it off!! Help! Any ideas? Many thanks in advance.

Have you tried Nitromors ?

No I have the environmentaly friendly paint stripper. Got most of the paint off the banisters but wanted to know if I can varnish over the last few scraps of white of do I have to take every inch off?
Will try the Nitromors for the tar like stuff though. Thanks

the stain/varnish will not hide any traces of white, so it all has to come off. You could try a heavy grit piece of abrasive paper for these awkward pieces (like p90/60).

The tar like substance could well be resin that has seeped from the timber. Is the house victorian by any chance? they used very resinous timber. Usually it tends to dissipate under heat

You should consider that there may be lead based paints if your house is old or of a period.

There are some paint strippers that you paste on wrap and leave overnight might be worth a try, nitromors is effective but needs neutralising before any finish goes on the timber.

I watched my sister doing this on her bannisters,took for ever.Wouldn't it be quicker taking them out and getting them dipped?

Hi all, thank you for your responses. It has taken me nearly 4 weeks and the bannisters look fab. I have found out that some paintwork is lead based so have taken precautions. Am now using nitromors and it is fab!! Will try to get this brownish tar stuff off with vigorous sander as nitromors won't even touch it. Whatever I have sanded has come up great though ( just time consuming). I had tried everywhere to have them dipped but nowhere could help!! Obviously a job that isn't needed, I do think that perhaps it may have been quicker to remove all and replace but would have worked out very expensive. Any way am finding it very therapeutic and giving me muscles that I didn't know exsisted!! LOL
I did find after 3 weeks that in order to get in the nitty gritty places (bannister spindles) that a nylon scourer unravelled and pulled around from left to right in the groove worked wonders. (just a shame it took 3 weeks) Had tried a stainless steel scourer and then even wire wool- don't bother, waste of money. These nylon scourers are cheap and usually get about 10 in a pack.
Has certainly been a learning curb!! lol
Anyway many thanks for all your help, and just one more thing.
Sounds silly but the instructions on the nitromors says to use lquid detergent to rinse. What does this mean? Thanks

Go over with sugar soap solution then rinse off with clean cold water.

Well done for sticking at it