Chapter 3: Restoring the old original frame.
The first thing to do is strip away all the original lead-based paint. This frame is around 118 years old and made of Heart Pine Wood. Using a heat gun to remove the lead paint is the safest way. As we heat up the frame, the pine smell of this old wood smells wonderful.
The curved molding was so old and brittle, removing it just made it fall apart, so the curved molding around the top is the only area that had to be replaced.
The frame alone weighted approximately 70 pounds. Once the steel framework and two panels were placed back into the finished frame, the approximate weight of the entire window is over 100 pounds.
So we decided to make a cradle to hold the frame and put it on wheels. This way Centenary United Methodist Church members had options of easily moving this restored window to other areas of the church.
It was wonderful working with Mary Carpenter and very exciting exploring the basement of this magnificent church. It was an honor to be part of this project in restoring a piece of their history.
