'Strip-A-Dee-Doh-Dah'

Armed with a heat gun, face mask and Radio 2. The stripping continues at a steady pace.

Taking to the scaffold to start stripping from the waistband up. The bottom half so far has tested my skills on the corner carvings. Each one different and intricate and no way of developing one technique that fits all. At least the inter rib carvings don't pose that problem and the ribs and flat boards are a dream. The weather outside is cold and I can hear the pelting rain on the corrugated roof of the barn. It sounds worse than it is, but I cosy up with my heat gun and carry on regardless, listening to Jeremy Vine putting the world to rights.

A Fist Full of Gremlins !

As I start stripping I notice some of the larger carvings are in a bit of a delicate state and some of the splits have gone right through and pieces of the scrollwork have come away. I think also the heat gun is softening the glue (fixative) behind some of the inter rib carvings as they feel loose when being stripped but seem to be ok when the wood cools down again. There's some pinning and glueing to do. Some filling and sealing. I'm checking all the time for any pencil marks by craftsmen past who may have built or restored the waggon. Any clues to its history. The rear of the waggon has drawn a blank but there's still 3 more sides to do and also the interior. There's always a chance something will reveal itself. For now I'll keep stripping to the rhythm of the radio whilst I contemplate the best way to tackle the rear crownboard.