Any tips for refinishing an old staircase without losing the details?

For carved areas, start with a suitable paint stripper and a stiff brush, then use small picks, flexible scrapers, or shaped sanding sticks to lift residue from the corners. Keep tools at a shallow angle and work gently. A sharp chisel can help in skilled hands, but it is easy to nick the carving or change its shape.

Try not to sand the detail aggressively just to chase every last speck. If the paint is old, check whether it could contain lead before disturbing more of it, and use the appropriate precautions.

I’d skip blasting unless someone experienced can control the equipment and pressure. Even softer media can wear away the softer parts of old wood faster than the harder grain, leaving the surface rough and the detail flattened. For one staircase, careful hand work may take longer, but it gives you much more control.

Pale strips don’t automatically mean the wood there needs to be darkened. They may have been protected from light while the exposed areas changed color, though other causes are possible. Before committing to a finish, sand a small, inconspicuous area evenly and test the look with a compatible preview method, such as a little mineral spirits. Let it dry before applying the actual finish, and test the finish itself on a hidden spot too.

If the color is still uneven, don’t keep removing wood without checking how much material is left. A subtle difference can be better than sanding through the tread or trying to force a close match with stain.

For tiny bits in corners, try a damp cotton swab or a plastic pick first, then move to a stripper that suits the existing coating if needed. A brass brush can help, but use light pressure. Keep sanding for the final cleanup, especially on carved surfaces where a flat abrasive can round over the edges.