How to Strip Wood Furniture

Anyone who's ever found cherry or tiger oak underneath layers of old paint knows that while some pieces are not worth stripping, others are.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Clean Rags
• Inexpensive Brushes
• Strippers
• Clean Rags
• Cotton Swabs
• Mineral Spirits
• Rubber Gloves
• Cotton Swabs
• Mineral Spirits
• Rubber Gloves
• Newspapers Or Drop Cloths
• Heavy Duty Garbage Bags
• Paint Scrapers
• Putty Knives
• Safety Goggles
• Safety Goggles

1. Make sure there's no chance your piece of furniture is an antique whose value could be destroyed by stripping the finish.

2. Set up your work area in a well-ventilated place with nothing around that could produce flames or sparks.

3. Remove drawer pulls and other hardware and place the furniture on a layer of newspaper or a disposable drop cloth (such as an old sheet). You may want to set the piece on scrap wood or bricks, especially if you're stripping the legs, to keep them from sticking.

4. Paint on a thick layer of stripper. Wear gloves and safety goggles.

5. Allow enough time for the stripper to work. (It usually takes 5 to 10 minutes)

6. Scrape the bubbled paint (or varnish) and stripper off in strips, using a paint and varnish scraper, an old spatula, or a putty knife; use an old toothbrush or cotton swabs for crevices. Take care not to scratch or mar softwood or gouge through thin veneers.

7. Repeat if necessary. Two applications are often required, especially if it's an old piece with several layers of stubborn paint or varnish.

8. Wipe down the piece of furniture with clean rags and mineral spirits, and allow to dry. Don't skimp on the mineral spirits - you want the piece to be as clean as possible.

Tips & Warnings

• When you're finished, dispose of all brushes and remaining stripper as instructed by the paint stripper's manufacturer.
• Even the new 'safe' strippers are caustic. If any stripper gets on your skin, wash it off immediately with soap and warm water.

[jimmydahgeek]

on 7/12/2009 a comment for momsrule: that would be true if the finish is in somewhat good condition but I usually pick up antiques that are covered with paint and/or in poor condition for next to nothing and make them look like new again. Instead of the piece ending up in the land fill I end up with a beautiful piece of furniture that is good for many more years.

[jimmydahgeek]

on 7/12/2009 If after stripping you have paint in the pores of the wood I will spray the piece with a light coat of flat black paint and then sand it off. The paint in the pores will be covered with black and will look remarkably good when you stain the piece.

[momsrule]

on 1/22/2009 Happy to see you point out that stripping some pieces reduces the value. My mother is an Antique Dealer and Collector. She sees this all the time. The stripping of paint that shows the age of the particular piece. Stripping layers of milk paint isn't cool.

on 11/22/2005 Instead of using sharp blades or other implements to remove paint-stripping solvents from wood, try an old deck of cards. When the solvent has bubbled, use one card to swipe through the gooey mess. Throw away the card and use a fresh one for the next swipe. Great for furniture contours and spindles because the cards flex and bend to reach most surfaces, you never create gouges -- and you always have a clean scraper!

on 11/22/2005 Using a UV light (like the Silent Paint Remover) and a sharp scraper on really old intricate woodwork really saves time over using solvents. Due to the temperature the light works at, you really have to work at scorching the wood. Remember to sharpen the blade on your scraper after every 15 minutes of use.