How to Remove Finish From Contoured Wood Trim

Contoured wood is most often found in crown molding and other types of wood trim. But over time, the finish on contoured wood can start looking old, dirty and in need of repair. Forget using sandpaper, as sanding contoured wood by hand takes an excess of time and effort and rarely produces the result you're looking for.

Instead, try using the power of a rotary tool to remove the finish. With a detail abrasive brush attached, a rotary tool can make quick work of removing the finish from a piece of contoured wood trim and turn this once troublesome job into a piece of cake.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Rotary Tool
• Detail Abrasive Brush
• Lock Mandrel
• Safety Glasses

1. With the rotary tool unplugged, attach the detail abrasive brush attachment. Plug in the tool and put on your safety glasses.

2. Turn the rotary tool on and using light pressure, run the brush over the surface you want to restore. Be sure to never run the tool at more than 15,000 rpm when using these accessories. Also, be sure not to leave the brush in one position for very long or it may begin to cut into the wood.

3. Gently move the brush between the surface contours of the work piece. The brush will do the work for you; all you need to do is guide it and focus it on the area where you need to remove the finish.
   
   The detail abrasive brushes have various grit concentrations embedded into their bristles to make the removal of the material much easier. They are also able to conform to complex shapes and these accessories, when used with care, can finish extremely intricate surfaces without damaging the work piece.

4. When you have removed all of the finish from the contoured wood trim, wipe the wood down with a clean cloth to remove any dust or residue. The piece is now ready to be re-painted or stained.

Tips & Warnings

• For tips, tricks, and safety info consult your tool's manual.
• The tips of these accessories do the work; applying excess pressure will cause premature wear to the bristles and could cause them to break off, especially while working in corners.
• Always wear eye protection when sanding, grinding or removing finish from wood.

Resources

• Dremel Rotary Tools