Old wooden ladders
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Lte9312092
+5
I have two very old wooden ladders my grandfather made in the 1940's. They are painted with red barn paint. I want to preserve them but not sure how to proceed. The wood is dry and the paint is most likely oil-lead-based. They have been stored in the barn. I don't see any termite damage or wood rot/decay. I would like to hang pictures of of the 6 ft ladder and baskets from the 4 ft. Any advice on how to proceed?
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Hi there you can always yse a sealant so you know the paint won't chip off etc. Even though the paint may be oil based you can still cover all of it with a water based sealant like poly acrylic. Just take note: the sealant will alter the color slightly and darken the wood, however it would totally preserve the ladders. I would do at least two coats.
Use a heat gun to remove the paint back down to the wood. The paint will bubble up and you use a putty knife to lift it off and away. Lowes sells them for about $20.00. Inspect for damage that needs repairs and fix, then repaint with red barn paint and sealer. They'll outlive you. Those are treasures to protect. Do it right.
After refinishing, ladders make great displays for quilts and throws.
If all you want to do is seal them use shellac. Bullseye Sealcoat is a great product. It will provide a super hard finish and also great for sealing odors in wood.
Bullseye Sealcoat - great suggestion for some of my other projects too. Thank you.