Chemical Stripping Wood Furniture

Well if you ve never stripped furniture before you may be wondering how easy it is to strip furniture without chemicals or thinking that chemical strippers are the only option for removing the existing finish.

Chemical stripping wood furniture. Refinishers contain a mixture of solvents like methanol acetone and toluene and dissolve clear finishes like lacquer and shellac in minutes. Read the label directions on the stripper to make sure you are using the proper stripper for wood surfaces. Not true my friend. One of the better paint strippers for reducing the time you spend scraping to reveal the wood d super remover manages to be strong without the use of nmp methylene chloride or highly toxic chemicals.

Follow the same safety precautions you would for methylene chloride. If the stripper is drying too fast you can add more stripper while you re scraping. If working with heat protect adjacent surfaces with aluminum foil tape or a metal paint shield. Although it gets most of the varnish off the furniture there will be some sanding required after the old finish is removed.

Stripping with chemical compounds is not necessary to remove these finishes. The toughest strippers for varnish which work by dissolving the bond between the varnish and the wood contain methylene chloride usually mixed with other chemicals. If you want a completely chemical free way to strip your wood then consider the 3m paint and rust stripper. Chemical strippers work best if you are stripping wood with many grooves or if the wood has areas that are difficult to sand.

The 3m stripper is made of a durable synthetic material that will not wear even after many uses. If using chemicals mask hinges and other hardware you can t remove with solvent resistant painter s tape like scotchblue. Let the alcohol or thinner work for 5 to 10 seconds and then wipe it off with a rough cloth or with steel wool. If removing stain from furniture place it on top of a drop cloth and remove or tape over hinges and other metal hardware.

Gentle on antiques and other wood finishes you can use water to clean it off and it won t take long to get started. Arrange for adequate ventilation and use rubber gloves and eye protection when using chemical strippers. Take steps to ensure that chemical stain remover does not splash or spill onto other surfaces. You can in fact simply use an orbital sander to strip furniture especially on wood.

Use 6 mil plastic sheeting and duct tape to seal off the workspace from the rest of the house. Chemical strippers are the fastest and easiest method to remove finish from wood furniture. Clean the surface free of dirt with soapy water and dry with a cloth or paper towels.