Now where did I leave off?… Remember last week when I slopped on some paint stripping goop in hopes that my fireplace mantle project would inch closer toward completion?! Well it did. An inch or so. 
starting the second round of scraping (isn't that paint goop nasty?!)
Shall I remind you of what it used to look like???
my mantle in all of its mint green glory
The goop given me by a co-worker turned out to be just what I needed for this monster of a project. I had enough to test it out on one of the mantle posts, and it easily took off the first several layers of paint, but still not everything.
one whole post stripped
I think I figured out that the mantle was originally varnished, then covered in a few coats of black paint, a nasty nude color, several coats of off-white, and then the final lovely mint green. Once the paint stripper made its way to the black layers, it got messy!
So Friday night I had a hot date at the Home Depot, where I picked up a whole tub of Peel Away 7 (and that super handy photocell porch light attachment!). Then it was back down to the basement where I spread that goop like frosting all over my mantle. Romantic, no? Husband was away for the weekend, so it was a perfect time to stay holed up in the basement, up to my eyeballs in goopy paint, scrape-scrape-scraping away.
I coated the mantle in the goop that night and covered it with the included wax paper stuff. Then Saturday morning after a big cup of coffee, I donned my latex gloves and got to work.
in need of another coat...
For 5 hours… The product was definitely working hard on the many layers of paint, but unfortunately it looked as if I needed another coat (on the parts that didn’t get the original test coat). 
it's getting there!
So Saturday night before grabbing dinner with The Girl, I frosted that mantle again.
more scraping after the second coat
Can I tell you how gross this was?! I don’t know if it was the varnish or the type of paint, or what, but it was dripping and gross! But I persevered and put on a happy face!
i think i look a lot happier than i was!
Do you know what was driving me to keep at it and not throw in the towel? The beautiful, lovingly beat up cedar being uncovered before my eyes…
i kind of love it as is!
I’ve accepted that it’s going to take one more round to get the remainder of the black paint off the surface, but I’m loving how it fills in the nicks and scars all over the wood (which is a gorgeous warm, reddish tinted wood). The moulding along the lintel was a little uncovered treasure, hidden by the gobs of paint in all the crevices.
look at that detailing!
see that pretty moulding detail beneath the sludge?!
So here’s where I need your help. Once I do one more round of scraping and a little steel wool sanding so that it’s pure cedar wood plus black paint stuck in the nooks and crannies, what should I do?
- Rub in some wood conditioner and let its original beauty shine through?
- Stain it a darker color?
- Paint it?
I think I’m leaning toward #1, but want to get some feedback. Do you like how it’s kind of rustic and authentic? Or do you think it would look better with a crisp coat of paint?
there it is! {please ignore all the junk in the background!!!}
Unfortunately, I don’t think I’ll get to work on this for at least another week (but probably not until after Thanksgiving!), so we’ll all have to wait to see how it turns out! Thanks for all your encouragement!
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
It’s looking much better! But I think the option you go with is all dependent on how it looks when it’s completely clean. It looks really rough in the photos, but after some light sanding, it may look better. I suppose it also depends on where you want to put it. Staining it would be quite nice. Painting it again seems like such a travesty after spending all this time to get the paint off! Good luck, can’t wait to see the final product!
No way would I paint it after all that hard work. I think maybe stain though just to give it a more even finish. I love it so far and am amazed you didn’t give up. I have a lot of items to strip in my home so may have to try the Peel Away 7.
Wow, I can’t believe all the hard work going into this project — and how much better the mantle looks because of it! I agree with everyone else, don’t paint it again. Maybe leave it “as is” or stain it. I think it depends how the last round of paint removal goes and how the wood looks. I think it may look really nice unfinished.
It’s coming out so great! What a ton of work though!!! Bravo that you did it all on your own.
I say go with option 1 and leave it as is. I’m kinda loving it as well.
You’d even think paint after all the work? Looks like with a sanding and conditioner it will be handsome. Bet that wood is thirsty!
Holy moly, you are patient! Can’t believe how cool it looks now, though. I think were you go from here definitely depends on the rest of the room and the look you’re going for. If it’s a relaxed/casual/Anthro vibe then I say leave it as is with come conditioner…but if you are after a crisper, more modern style I think staining would be better. Either way will be great!
Looks like you’ve put a lot of work into this project! But it’s looking really good. I vote for #1 too! Keep it rustic.
oh keep it just as is!! the wood is simply beautiful, and i love how the darkened nooks and crannies show how much it has been loved over time – great work, friend!
I think it needs one more round. I like a little paint but I think this has too much.
PS: I can’t tell from the post but did you let the Peel Away sit for at least 24 hours? Overnight is not enough. You really want it on there for as long as possible.
Oh wow!!! Fabulous work. what a lovely mantle–can’t wait to see it when you are all done.
Lookin’ good Leila! I agree with most of the people above – DON’T paint it.
I looked back at the photos of your home from your interview with me and I think staining it would work really well with your existing aesthetic. Once you’ve finished removing all of the paint, though, #1 could potentially be better. Kinda hard to tell right now!
Bleach it? After all that work I wouldn’t paint it. Years ago (when I had no idea what I was doing) I bleached a big wood-framed mirror…managed to even leave a little whitish “bloom” on it so it didn’t look brand new. The bloom might have been me trying to add cream paint to get a limed look in between bleach attempts. My sister just had floors rough sanded, then bleached, then sealed with oil. Gorgeous. Good luck. Trish
It’s a lot of work, but it’s going to be beautiful, Leila. I can’t wait to see the finished product!
Shannon
Now that is probably something Martha has not done yet!!
So Fun!
I think you need to finish the sanding and then put it up in the site you have planned for it and leave it there a few days then decide if it needs to be stained, painted or waxed. It would be a shame to paint over all your hard work, but if the finished product doesn’t fit in the room then paint away.
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