I am sure there is someone on this board who is familiar with woodworking...I am a new homeowner trying to do a basic project: refinish the front door. The finish was getting quite faded and weathered and I think the previous owners just kept putting more coats of one-step stain/poly on. I started trying to sand it down by hand, but that was taking forever, so I bought some chemical stripper (I think it is by Kleen Kutter, "VARNISH, LACQUER, AND SHELLAC REMOVER"). So I have been using that with medium grit steel wool to try to get the old finish off. But it is taking FOREVER. The large flat sections are not so bad but I am having a terrible time getting the finish off in the beveled panels around the edges. The varnish remover helps some but I am having to use a ton of it, I've already been through one can and you can see the results, at this rate I will need three cans to do the door, seems excessive no? Even in the areas where I can get the old stain off, it doesn't seem to come off evenly. The door itself is not in bad shape, it is no more than 15 years old. I guess it's oak? I'm not even sure.
Is there a better method or product to get the door clean enough to stain? I know I could buy an electric sander but that would only seem to help with the flat portions, not the detail, which is the worst part of it. I appreciate any thoughts or suggestions. Current pictures attached.
Is there a better method or product to get the door clean enough to stain? I know I could buy an electric sander but that would only seem to help with the flat portions, not the detail, which is the worst part of it. I appreciate any thoughts or suggestions. Current pictures attached.