Restoring a confessional booth.

Hi,

Some 25 years ago, I pulled five old-looking 'doors' from a skip. Put together. They made a double-sided confessional box. Unfortunately, they didn't originate where I found them, so I have yet to learn their provenance and age. They are intriguing because they are crude, unlike the usual elegant quality of confessionals.

I want to restore them, but I need to figure out where to start. It doesn’t seem straightforward. I fear stripping and painting may ruin their charm and historical value, and I should preserve the wood and the confessional’s integrity.

1. What sort of wood is it?
2. What are the restoration choices?
3. What would have been the original finish?
4. Should I do this project?

I would appreciate some of your wisdom.

Many thanks

peterC

They do look to be old and simply made. Also looks to have had a hard life and some very basic repairs and add ons. Who knows what they were used for after they left the church. Going by all the different paint colours perhaps part of someones shed. As to what timber you may have to take a swipe with a plane along an edge to see what it looks like. Looks like someone at some time has made a start at stripping some of them too. I could not advise on how they should look but perhaps a look in some old country churches may give a clue. Good luck with it.
Regards
John

Thanks for the reply.

A shed had been demolished where I found them. At the time I didn't think of the obviouse, that they were part of the shed. Yes looks like they were stripped but then left in the weather, and the random paint fits with the shed idea.

BTW: Would taking them to be dipped to strip them be a good start?

cheers

peterC

Stripping used to be done in caustic and could lead to disolving the glue in the M&T joints. I think these days there are more gentle methods as well. You will have to do some research. Talk to people who do old building renovations. It would save you a lot of work. Bit of a chat and some odligation free quotes will likely tell you more than I can. I have in the past used paint stripper that you paint on with a brush then scrape off. Just one door was a lot of work.
I have a feeling that the original would likely been stained quite dark and then varnished but there again best to research first.
Regards
John