Deck spindles stripping

[up-power]

I have this crazy idea for stripping spindles and would like some feedback. I have roughly 240 deck spindles that I want to strip. I can replace them yes but I was thinking what if I make up a batch of stain stripper in a 55 gallon drum and then submerged them into the stripper for like 20 minutes. I could then pull then out and wash them right off. My question is will that destroy the wood or should it make the stain nice and easy to come off. Wondering if anyone else has had a mcgyver idea like this. Comment away please.

 

[Seymore_BlEaCh]

What are you trying to strip a solid or semi trans? Try soaking a couple in a 5 gallon bucket or whatever they fit in to test the idea?

I would rather try to pressure wash them while they are installed on the rail myself..

Now you can try stripping them making a foam type stripper the foam should give you a better dwelling time?

 

[bigchaz]

Yea if its just a regular stain it's way easier to just wash them while it is on the deck. Plus you can spray that with 5 gallons of stripper versus 55 gallons.

If you are talking something really hard to strip it would certainly help but its going to be hard to pull them out and put them somewhere to wash them. They need to be secured or the power washer will just blow the spindle away. Don't try holding it either, too risky you could hit your hand.

Also time wise, if you are removing these spindles they are either screwed or nailed. If it is screwed you are spending the same amount of time to unscrew and screw them back in as opposed to just screwing in new pickets. If they are nailed you can pop them off more easily and quickly but you then have to deal with 240 nails sticking out of each side of the spindle as you try to submerge and then pull it back out to wash it. Really increases the risk of getting scratched or cut on an exposed and potentially rusty nail

 

[JBurd]

If I was taking the spindles off I'd be putting metal ones back on.