French Polishing and Bespoke Furniture
Stripping is Faster and Often Safer. It’s almost always better to strip than to sand . To begin with, except in cases where the old finish is flaking off, it’s a lot more work to sand than to strip using a paint-and-varnish remover.
Strip and Refinish Furniture Step 1: Choose a Work Area. Work in a well-ventilated area such as your open garage or on an outdoor deck or patio. Step 2: Strip Away Old Finish . Wood begins to turn dark, dull and lifeless when it ages. Step 3: Sand It. Step 4: Apply Sanding Sealer. Step 5: Stain It. Step 6: Apply Sealant.
So here’s how I did it! STEP 1: Prep the Furniture . STEP 2: Apply Environmentally-Friendly Stripper. STEP 3: Remove the Stripper With a Dull Putty Knife. STEP 4: Remove the Residue With After Wash. STEP 5: Sand It Smooth! STEP 6: Wipe It Down With a Tack Cloth. STEP 7: Apply Liming Wax.
Easily remove past-its-prime paint with these high-performing paint strippers . BEST OVERALL: Citri-Strip Paint and Varnish Stripping Gel . BEST FOR HEAVY DUTY: Dumond Peel Away 1 Heavy-Duty Paint Remover. BEST ECO PICK: Smart Strip Advanced Paint Remover.
11 ways we know to remove paint from wood without chemicals : Sanding. Pressure washer. Vinegar. Baking soda. Wire brush. Heat gun. Paint stripers. Infrared devices.
Wait about 30 minutes and test a small area to determine if the finish has loosened. If not, wait longer, even several hours if needed. You may need to reapply a coat if the stripper dries out before the finish has softened.
Failing to Strip Completely Leaving spots will yield an uneven surface when you finally start finishing it. Apply enough stripper to keep the surface wet, and never work in direct sunlight as you can dry the wood . Remove the finish completely before sanding to get the surface ready for the new finish.
In many cases, stripper will dry within 10 minutes, making it extra difficult to remove . I like to keep it wet until the finish softens. In this case, 5 minutes is all it took.
As proof of its power, vinegar can tackle even the toughest of substances: varnish . One blogger used a 50-50 mix of warm water and white vinegar to strip the varnish from his hardwood floors. With a set time of just half an hour, the old glue easily peeled away with a basic floor scraper.
You can use a stiff-bristled scrub brush to remove varnish from fancy, curved details. Some of the stain may linger after scraping. To remove it, dampen a soft, fine-grade steel-wool pad with more paint stripper and rub it against the wood , following the wood grain, then wipe off the softened stain with a rag.
Here are 5 Ways To Paint Furniture Without Sanding : USE A MINERAL PAINT . Mineral paint is very similar to chalk style paints in that no prep or prime is required. USE MILK PAINT + BONDING AGENT. As I already mentioned, the antique desk in this post was not prep- sanded . USE A BONDING PRIMER. USE A LIQUID SANDER /DEGLOSSER.
The best paint stripper Best Overall: Citri-Strip Paint and Varnish Stripping Gel . Most Eco Friendly: Dumond Smart Strip Advanced Paint Remover. Fastest Working: Sunnyside 2-Minute Advanced Paint Remover. Most Family Friendly: MAX Strip Paint & Varnish Stripper. Most Heavy Duty: Dumond Peel Away 1 Heavy-Duty Paint Remover.
The first step to restoring old wood furniture is to give it a good cleaning with an orange or lemon-oil cleaner. Don’t waste your time with furniture polish, go straight for the good stuff: Murphy’s Oil Soap. Spray or wipe on, let it sit for ten to fifteen minutes and then wipe off.