Things You'll Need
Gloves
Wood stripper
Rags
Wood stain
Paintbrushes
Waterproof sealer or polyurethane
Sandpaper and sanding block
Electric sander
When wood becomes old, it often takes on a greyish appearance. This is especially likely for wood that remains permanently outdoors, such as the wood used in fences and sheds. When wood objects around your home begin to turn grey, you do not have replace them; you can restore wood through either a chemical or manual restoration process.
Wood Stripper
Step 1
Put on gloves to protect your hands before working with wood stripper. Coat a rag with the chemical stripper.
Video of the Day
Step 2
Rub the rag along the wood. Continue rubbing an area until the grey on the wood disappears, revealing the natural-colored wood beneath.
Step 3
Sand any spots on the wood where the wood stripper failed to remove the grey. Wipe the wood down with a dry rag to get rid of the dust after sanding.
Step 4
Apply new stain to the wood with a paintbrush in any color of your choice. Let the stain sit on the wood for approximately 10 minutes and wipe the wood dry with a rag.
Step 5
Cover the wood with waterproof sealer or polyurethane. Allow the wood to dry completely before exposing the wood to outside elements.
Manually Strip the Wood
Step 1
Sand small areas of wood with sandpaper and a sanding block or large sections of wood with an electric sander. Use coarse sandpaper and continue to sand until all the grey is buffed from the surface of the wood.
Step 2
Switch the coarse sandpaper with medium-grit sandpaper. Sand the surface again to smooth out the surface of the wood.
Step 3
Stain the wood by applying the stain with a paintbrush. After 10 minutes, wipe the remaining stain off with a dry rag.
Step 4
Cover the wood stain with waterproof sealer or polyurethane to protect the surface.
Video of the Day