Hi,
The weird thing was, it was painted many layers of white on the inside, and had green paint over an original faux-grain on the outside.I stripped both sides down to bare wood, but it was a lot easier getting 100% removal on the faux graining, because it had apparently been oiled or varnished underneath. I use a heat gun and sharp paint scrapers primarily. I sharpen the scraper with a file about every dozen strokes. Lead paint really dulls the steel.
The inside had the typical white primer from the 1880's that really soaked in deeply.
I used a lot of sharp scrapers and picks to get out as much as possible, then, the old-house woodwork restorer's cure-all-- gel stain-- took care of the rest. I used a dark red mahogany (merlot) liquid stain, then a seal coat of shellac, and a toning coat of Java gel stain to tone down the red and leave some "character" in the moldings and corners. Next went a coat or three of garnet shellac, and a wipe-on poly satin gel varnish for some UV and weather protection.

I'm on the same boat as mrsrichards with my front door (except both sides are covered in paint, ugh), so this post is a huge help to me. Thanks so much for sharing this info, Casey!

I'm on the same boat as mrsrichards with my front door (except both sides are covered in paint, ugh), so this post is a huge help to me. Thanks so much for sharing this info, Casey!

I can tell that this door came from a home where money was spent. Paint,back in the day was expensive. Then it became a lot cheaper.

It really looks gorgeous!

I think I will go ahead and try to strip the paint off. Then if I can't get it all I will just re-paint it. Can't hurt, right? And I don't think it will close right with another layer on it ~ pretty tight fit already!