How to Correctly Strip Wood and Furniture

How to Correctly Strip Wood and Furniture

The key to any great finished result is the knowing how and the preparation for the project.  Stripping wood is fairly easy if you know how.  If you try to rush this, you will have a mess on your hands and more than likely ruin the piece of furniture you are trying to fix.

It is essential in stripping wood that it is done correctly or you will have "bulge" spots, cracks and blistering later on.

If you have furniture that you would like to repaint or stain, or your furniture has started to crack, flake or peel you will need to strip the wood before applying any other cover.

Wood strippers come in two types:

Solvent-Based:

• Solvent-Based wood stripper, which contains methylene chloride.  You must work quickly with this, and thoroughly, but it works on a wide range of finishes. These emit toxic vapors as they evaporate, which requires you to work very safely, with adequate ventillation.
• Solvent-based wood strippers will melt nylon bristles, so only use a natural bristle brush to apply these.

Water-Based:

• Water-Based wood Strippers are just as effective as solvent and much safer to use.
• However, water-based wood strippers take a lot longer to work, and can take up to several hours or overnight to do the job.
• Also, water-based wood strippers can raise the wood grain, which means that you must sand the piece after stripping.

It is recommended that you purchase this wood stripper in a paste and not in liquid form.  The paste will cling to your project better and is not quite as messy to work with.

Before you begin:

Prep the area well:

1. Remove all drawers, doors and hardware
2. Strip the drawers and doors separately
3. Use masking tape to cover all areas you don’t want to strip
4. Read the instructions carefully!

Once you have fully prepared the area:

• Pour a small amount of the stripper in a plastic container and keep the main supply capped.
• Work horizontally if at all possible
• Strip one side at a time; you can come back later if you need to
• If any areas are stubborn, come back to them later with a No. 2 steel wool.

Make sure you clean off all stripper residue before you begin to apply new coat.

Step breakdown:

1. Apply a thick coat of the stripper using a paint brush (natural bristle); spread in one direction with a minimum of brush strokes. 
2. Leave stripper on for the recommended amount of time
3. Remove bulk of dried stripper with a flexible putty knife, working with the grain of the wood
4. Remember, water rinsing can weaken glued joints . . . use the putty knife first
5. Remove remaining stripper with No. 2 steel wool
6. For molded edges and carved areas, use a brass bristle brush or an old toothbrush to gently scrub stripper off
7. Clean all crevices and nooks with a No. 2 steel wool.  You can wrap the wool around a piece of sting and use this to get into all the grooves.

Precautions:

If using the solvent-based stripper:

• Work in well-ventilated area
• Keep the project up off the floor as fumes "sink".  This will help your breathing
• Use water chemical rubber gloves
• Keep away from children, pregnant woman, the elderly and pets
• Do not apply with a sponge
• Keep a source of water nearby
• Work away from flames
• Do not store remaining stripper in the house
• Dispose of all rags and residue by leaving them in an open can outside.  Once dry, take to local hazardous waste area