One damp moulding on a door

[orval]

Hi,

I have a paneled door I want to varnish, but oddly just one of the mouldings on it seems to be damp.

I've attached a photo. It also shows how the moulding has expanded and lifted off the panel.

Any ideas how I can remedy this?

Thanks!

 

[Woody2Shoes]

Hi - it looks like that door has probably been dipped in caustic soda to strip all the old (lead?!) paint. The residue, unless fully neutralised/removed tends to be hygroscopic - hence the dampness you see from airborne water vapour. My suggestion would be to try scrubbing the moulding with vinegar - a dilute organic acid - to attempt to neutralise the alkaline sodium hydroxide residue. Cheers, W2S

 

[Beau]

Hi - it looks like that door has probably been dipped in caustic soda to strip all the old (lead?!) paint. The residue, unless fully neutralised/removed tends to be hygroscopic - hence the dampness you see from airborne water vapour. My suggestion would be to try scrubbing the moulding with vinegar - a dilute organic acid - to attempt to neutralise the alkaline sodium hydroxide residue. Cheers, W2S

That's really interesting. Have noticed this on dipped doors before and thought it must be related but did not know until know.

Thanks

 

[orval]

That's really helpful. Thanks Woody2Shoes!

I did send them off to be stripped. Whether they were dipped or done by hand I presume there was alkaline involved.

I think I'll remove that bit of moulding to give it a good scrub all 'round.

Cheers