#585038 - 02/28/10 11:41 PM
My turn! Refinishing bifold closet doors.
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Returning Adult
Registered: 10/16/99
Posts: 318
Loc: Enumclaw, Washington, USA
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I have nine closets with bifold doors that have gone through 3 kids and 30 years of living. Is there an easier way to refinish these doors other than sanding them down, wash with lacquer thinner, sealing, staining and shooting them with clear lacquer? The doors are louvered on top and raised panel on the bottom.
I am trying to get ready for springers but this last bit of this project is stealing my time.
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#585087 - 03/01/10 02:21 AM
Re: My turn! Refinishing bifold closet doors.
[Re: Captain]
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Carcass
Registered: 09/26/06
Posts: 2269
Loc: Where ever Dogfish tells me to...
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Cost/time of labor = New doors .. .
_________________________
Due to a minor mishap, I now have 15# balls. . . ...
Decisions are made by those who show up.
"Shallow men believe in luck. Strong men believe in cause and effect." Ralph Waldo Emerson
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#585115 - 03/01/10 10:09 AM
Re: My turn! Refinishing bifold closet doors.
[Re: FishRanger]
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Poodle Smolt
Registered: 05/03/01
Posts: 10878
Loc: McCleary, WA
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Buy new, spray, install.
_________________________
"Give me the anger, fish! Give me the anger!"
They call me POODLE SMOLT!
The Discover Pass is brought to you by your friends at the CCA.
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#585129 - 03/01/10 11:08 AM
Re: My turn! Refinishing bifold closet doors.
[Re: Dogfish]
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The Tide changed
Registered: 08/31/00
Posts: 7083
Loc: Everett
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Or Paint them. While remodeling the house I am in now, I couldn't bring myself to throw away the 25 year old louvered fir doors in the house. Great quality doors in good shape, but the old brown stain was ugly and dated.
A coat of primer and two coats of a high quality white semi-gloss later they look brand new.
_________________________
You know something bad is going to happen when you hear..."Hey, hold my beer and watch this"
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#585130 - 03/01/10 11:17 AM
Re: My turn! Refinishing bifold closet doors.
[Re: Sky-Guy]
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MPD
Registered: 01/02/08
Posts: 2544
Loc: Santa Rosa, CA
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Or Paint them. While remodeling the house I am in now, I couldn't bring myself to throw away the 25 year old louvered fir doors in the house. Great quality doors in good shape, but the old brown stain was ugly and dated.
A coat of primer and two coats of a high quality white semi-gloss later they look brand new. Sky-Guy hit the nail on the head. there is a reason those doors have lasted so many years. you might think about replacing the hardware if it needs it, but don't count on finding an exact match, you will probably have to do a little retro-fitting. with twenty years in the building materials trade and the last ten working specifically with doors, i can tell you most bifolds are total crap, unless you buy something in the price range of Simpson Doors, but i don't remember them having louvered bifolds. absolutely DO NOT BUY "STAINABLE" LOUVER BIFOLDS AT DEPOT OR LOWE'S, they are import crap. hope this helps. now get fishing, 'cause lord knows, i'm not.
_________________________
Don't believe everything that you think.
"Holy hell son, you're about as useful as a cock flavored lollipop."
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#585132 - 03/01/10 11:30 AM
Re: My turn! Refinishing bifold closet doors.
[Re: Mikespike]
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Returning Adult
Registered: 10/16/99
Posts: 318
Loc: Enumclaw, Washington, USA
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The thought of painting them has crossed my mind but I could not stand the thought of doing that to these beautiful doors. They are not in that bad of shape. They are custom doors as the openings are not standard which will drive up the cost of buying new. There was a guy in Fife that made custon bifolds but I lost his contact number. For the time being I will clean them up and polish them. When the weather gets better I will bring them into the shop and refinish them the right way.
In the interim I will look for a custom bifold shop and get a bid on new ones. Once I get a price I will make a decision on whether or not to proceed with the refinishing. If anyone has a lead on a door shop that deals with custom fir bifold doors I would appreciate it.
Captain
Edited by Captain (03/01/10 11:33 AM)
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#585134 - 03/01/10 11:41 AM
Re: My turn! Refinishing bifold closet doors.
[Re: Captain]
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The Tide changed
Registered: 08/31/00
Posts: 7083
Loc: Everett
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The thought of painting them has crossed my mind but I could not stand the thought of doing that to these beautiful doors.
Captain I had the same feeling until I saw how much new Fir louvered doors cost. Then I went to the paint store....
_________________________
You know something bad is going to happen when you hear..."Hey, hold my beer and watch this"
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#585136 - 03/01/10 11:42 AM
Re: My turn! Refinishing bifold closet doors.
[Re: Captain]
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ExtenZe Field Tester
Registered: 11/10/09
Posts: 7960
Loc: Vancouver, WA
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I wouldn't want to tackle stripping, sanding and refinishing myself. Too labor intensive with louvers/raised panels and I hate anything to do with painting.
If the doors are worth saving why not a get a price(s) from a refinisher and then compare that to the cost of new doors.
_________________________
NO STEP ON SNEK
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#585144 - 03/01/10 12:00 PM
Re: My turn! Refinishing bifold closet doors.
[Re: Direct-Drive]
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Returning Adult
Registered: 12/09/03
Posts: 399
Loc: Seattle
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In Ballard there is a place called "Furniture Spa". It is my understanding that you can bring large pieces there and they dip them in paint/stain/varnish/lacquer thinner. Must be some brutal chemicals. Anyway, whatever you put in comes out ready for sanding and refinishing. Not sure about the cost. But it might be worth looking in to. http://www.furniturespa.com Good luck.
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#585156 - 03/01/10 12:20 PM
Re: My turn! Refinishing bifold closet doors.
[Re: Brant]
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River Nutrients
Registered: 02/14/06
Posts: 2533
Loc: Elma
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I second Brant. I would have them dipped.
Then again I am a glutton for punishment, so I might just start doing them one door a night after work until I either went crazy and burned them all, or finished the job, whichever came first.
The louvers will be a total bitch to sand to bare wood. This project will take you a long time and a lot of work to accomplish at home. Get a Fein Multimaster for the small edges if you are going to do this in your shop.
_________________________
WDFW - Turning outdoorsmen into golfers since 1994.
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#585168 - 03/01/10 12:57 PM
Re: My turn! Refinishing bifold closet doors.
[Re: Captain]
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MPD
Registered: 01/02/08
Posts: 2544
Loc: Santa Rosa, CA
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this may make a big difference! look on one side of the louvered opening for pin/finish nail holes. you can remove the "sticking" (the trim that holds the louvers in place) on this side and pull out the louvers for sanding, etc. if you break any of the sticking, you can ususally buy some trim (window stop, etc.) to replace, and since it will most likely be on the inside, no one will know if it isn't a perfect match. oh yeah, number/letter your louvers for remove and replace. i'll bet JerryGarcia knows a little something about this, you might ask him.
_________________________
Don't believe everything that you think.
"Holy hell son, you're about as useful as a cock flavored lollipop."
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#585177 - 03/01/10 01:27 PM
Re: My turn! Refinishing bifold closet doors.
[Re: Rocket Red]
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Poodle Smolt
Registered: 05/03/01
Posts: 10878
Loc: McCleary, WA
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Gordy @ McKenna Door. 253-677-7227. He did the finish on our entry door, and built the frames for our interior doors. he would be worth a call. Tell him Andy from McCleary sent you.
_________________________
"Give me the anger, fish! Give me the anger!"
They call me POODLE SMOLT!
The Discover Pass is brought to you by your friends at the CCA.
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#585184 - 03/01/10 01:44 PM
Re: My turn! Refinishing bifold closet doors.
[Re: Rocket Red]
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Returning Adult
Registered: 10/16/99
Posts: 318
Loc: Enumclaw, Washington, USA
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I have a detail, belt and drum sanders. I have decided to do one at a time if I don't look into new. Thanks for the advice! It gives comfort to me that there are others that are as anal retentive as me on this site, especially Brewer!
Jerry I have a call into Paul Gracie. I think this is the guy that I have used before in another lifetime ago when I was a builder.
Thanks to all for your input.
Captain
Edited by Captain (03/01/10 02:01 PM)
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#585198 - 03/01/10 02:48 PM
Re: My turn! Refinishing bifold closet doors.
[Re: Captain]
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2112
Registered: 01/11/07
Posts: 4898
Loc: in the mass production zone
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captain, i'm still fuming over the usa loss to canada yesturday. sorry for being anal retentive.
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#585218 - 03/01/10 04:18 PM
Re: My turn! Refinishing bifold closet doors.
[Re: Brewer]
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Returning Adult
Registered: 10/16/99
Posts: 318
Loc: Enumclaw, Washington, USA
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Brewer,
My son's brother-in-law lives in Abbotsford and we have heard all about the Canadian win. I am sure we will hear more.
What would this board be like without the Brewer? I enjoy your comments. When I get caught up I have some reels headed your way.
Take care bud.
Captain
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#585516 - 03/02/10 05:12 PM
Re: My turn! Refinishing bifold closet doors.
[Re: Captain]
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Smolt
Registered: 11/19/08
Posts: 93
Loc: OP
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The thought of painting them has crossed my mind but I could not stand the thought of doing that to these beautiful doors. They are not in that bad of shape. They are custom doors as the openings are not standard which will drive up the cost of buying new. Captain Sounds like you already have your answer. I am partial to keeping originals especially if they are crafted nicely.
_________________________
Team SRTC Hand-Tied Steelhead and Salmon Jigs If it's your only bite...you might as well Strike Rite
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#586428 - 03/05/10 11:29 AM
Re: My turn! Refinishing bifold closet doors.
[Re: Rocket Red]
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Returning Adult
Registered: 10/16/99
Posts: 318
Loc: Enumclaw, Washington, USA
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Update on the bifold doors.
Thanks to Jerry Garcia I got a lead on a guy to build some new doors. The price was about $4,000. plus hardware and finishing. I estimated it would be just under $6,000. when I got them all in.
I armed myself with sanders, glue, screws, clamps, wood filler, stain and lacquer and went to work. With four doors left I am well on the way to completing this project. The doors came out beautiful, I would say just as good as new, if not better. The old adage, necessity is the mother of invention is alive and well at the Captain's house.
With completion of this project my wife has instituted a new policy for the grandkids. She has implemented a "NO Quad's in the house rule". This should help to keep things in order around here.
With the money saved on this project it looks like the new electric downriggers are becoming a reality on the USS Kelly Daze for the springer season.
Captain
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