Instructions on Paint Removal

Remove old coats of paint with a chemical stripper.

When the paint job of a piece of furniture starts to look worn, you can strip the paint to reveal its older finish. In some cases, this can reveal a valuable antique piece behind the old table you bought at the flea market. A chemical paint stripper partially dissolves paint so you can remove layers of paint. Because of its flammable properties, you will need to take special precautions when working with a chemical paint stripper.

Things You'll Need

• Respirator
• Gloves
• Goggles
• Long-sleeved shirt
• Long pants
• Old newspaper
• Chemical stripper
• Container
• Natural-bristle brush
• Putty knife
• Molding scraper
• Awl or probe
• Toothbrush
• Dry wood shavings
• Twine
• Chemical residue remover
• Fine sandpaper or steel wool

Instructions

1. Open the windows of the room you are working in or work in an outdoor area. Using a chemical stripper can release the toxic fumes in paint. Ventilation will minimize the concentration of these fumes in the air.

2. Wear protective gear, including a respirator, gloves, goggles, a long-sleeved shirt and long pants. Wear old clothes because you might get paint on them.

3. Lay sheets of old newspaper under your work area to prevent damaging your floor with paint.

4. Pour some chemical stripper into a liquid container. Dip a natural-bristle brush in the container and paint the chemical stripper on the painted surface. Brush in one direction slowly to minimize splashes.

5. Scrape the paint when it bubbles. The formation of bubbles means that the chemical stripper has softened the finish and the paint is pulling away from the surface. Use a putty knife to scrape flat surfaces and a molding scraper to scrape contours. For tight spaces, use an awl or probe and a toothbrush. Scour complex surfaces with a fistful of dry wood shavings. For lathe-turned crevices of furniture pieces, hold a length of twine with both hands and pull it back and forth against the surface.

6. Pour some chemical residue remover onto a scrub pad and apply it to the treated surfaces. After the surface dries, sand it smooth using fine sandpaper or steel wool.

Tips & Warnings

• Consult your local municipality about discarding your old paint, cans, residue and solvent because you might have to deliver them to a special disposal facility.

• Keep an AB-rated fire extinguisher nearby when you work with solvent-based chemical strippers because they are flammable.

• Keep children and pets away from treated surfaces when the chemicals are still wet.

• Wait for the newspaper sheets to dry before discarding them.

• Don't strip lead-based paint. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission says that no method is completely safe for homeowner removal of lead-based paint. Contact your local or state health or housing department on advice about testing your paint for lead. Hire a professional to remove your paint if it contains lead.

References

• azWoodman.com: How to Strip Paint Off Wood
• US Consumer Product Safety Commission: CPSC Warns About Hazards of "Do It Yourself" Removal of Lead Based Paint