Painting a staircase?

[waynew]

Hi,

Would it be easier to paint the stringers and risers before permanently attaching the
walnut bull nose or after?

I'll be finishing the walnut using a clear oil based finish and was thinking that this
finish would help prevent paint getting into the pores of the walnut. On the other
hand it might prove easier to paint without the nosing there. Whats your experience
with these types of issues?

Many thanks,
Wayne

 

[Alan m]

i would clear coat the walnut first , then paint the rest. if you mess up the painted bit it wont matter because it will be painted , hopefully the finish on the walnut would stop any paint doing it any harm

 

[avrs22]

On a staircase that is already installed definitely do the walnut first.
If you put paint on the walnut that already has been finished with oil base poly the paint can be easily be wiped off.

If the threads were not installed yet then I would paint the risers and skirts first.

 

[waynew]

Thanks Alan and avrs22,

That would I was thinking, the oil based finish along with some taping should help keep the
treads  clean.  Many thanks.

If the threads were not installed yet then I would paint the risers and skirts first.

Out of interest how would you handle the glue joints if you did it this way? There are areas that need gluing wood to wood
so you would have to leave those areas free of paint, how would you go about that?

i.e. on the risers just behind the treads and the stringer mortises etc.