How to Remove Stain Finish From Wood Furniture

Chemical stripping is the first step to updating a tired finish.

Removing a stain finish from your wood furniture involves a process called chemical stripping. Many do-it-yourselfers utilize this process to remove an outdated or damaged stain, or simply as a means for refinishing a piece of furniture. With the proper application of a chemical stripper, you should be able to completely remove a stain finish from your wooden furniture.

Things You'll Need

• Protective gloves
• Protective eyewear
• Screwdriver
• Chemical stripper
• Paintbrush
• Putty knife
• Paint scraper
• Steel wool brush
• Cloth
• Lacquer
• Water
• Mineral spirits

Instructions

1. Remove all appendages from your wooden furniture such as drawers, legs and handles. To completely remove the stain, you have to be able to apply the stripper to all areas of the furniture. Put on protective gloves and eyewear before you begin to apply the stripper.

2. Apply a thick layer of the stripper the wooden piece. Try to work in small areas at a time; for example, apply the stripper to just the top of a wooden table first, rather than the entire table. Allow the stripper time to work, but not to dry. This is usually around 10 minutes, but the time could vary depending on the chemical stripper you are using, so check the instructions on the label.

3. Test whether the stripper is ready to be scraped off by gently making a dent in the wood with a putty knife. If the putty knife easily penetrates the wood, the stripper is ready to be scraped.

4. Remove the stain with a paint scraper or putty knife, trying to not gouge the wood.

5. Repeat the process if all of the stain has not been removed. Depending on the type of stain used, it may take several applications of chemical stripper to fully remove it. For hard-to-reach crevices, scrape the wood with a steel wool brush covered in chemical stripper.

6. Wipe the furniture with mineral spirits, lacquer or water, depending on the type of chemical stripper you have used. The type of rinse required will be listed on the label.

Tips & Warnings

• Work on your wood furniture into a well-ventilated room. The best work area would be outdoors, but if the piece is too large, or too heavy, move it to an area of the room where you have free-flowing air from open windows. Chemical strippers can be harmful to your lungs, and fumes from chemical stripping and finishing stains can easily ignite.

• Do not remove a stain finish from a piece of antique wooden furniture if your purpose is to use the furniture or keep it for value. Removing original stains can completely devalue an antique piece.

References

• Furniture Knowledge: How to Refinish Furniture