How to Strip a Piece of Furniture
Oak table
A refinished piece of furniture can be quite a show and a source of real pride to the one who labored on the piece. Before, you start to apply the new finish though you have to remove the old one. Depending on the finish and the structure of the piece this might be a difficult task. With some patience though and a few tricks you can remove that old finish. The hardest part will be behind you and you will be on your way to a creating a show piece. Below are the steps and some tips to help get you through the process with the minimum of difficulty.
1.) Start by applying a good stripper to the piece. Don’t worry about the name brand strippers. They aren’t necessary and you will be paying more for the name. Some of the best products are the inexpensive ones. Apply a liberal coat to the area you are working on and if the finish is old or heavy have something else to do while the stripper does its job. If you try and remove it to soon you will only be wasting the product and you will have to reapply. If it’s a particularly stubborn finish you may have to refresh the stripper with a fresh coat if it begins to dry before the finish is off. Once it’s loose gently lift the stripper with a putty knife being careful not to scratch the piece.
2.) If the piece has some small crevices or intricate patterns that need to be stripped you can use a piece of cord or a pointed wooden dowel for getting into some of those tight spots. Don’t use and pointed metal objects since these can mark the piece. A fine piece of sand paper folded in half will get you into some tight spots as well.
3.) Once the piece has been stripped wash it down with a product specifically made for removing stripper residue. You can also use denatured alcohol. Clean the surface with one of these and a piece of 0000 steel wool. Allow 24 hours for the piece to dry thoroughly.
4.) The last step is to re-sand the piece with some 0000 steel wool to remove any waxy residues left behind by the stripper. This residue is normal since manufacturers use additives in the stripper to slow evaporation. Once the final sanding is complete he piece is ready for the new finish.
