 Stripping a Piece of Furniture The Daly Method For Stripping Clear Finishes From Furniture A Word on Safety: All of the solvents used in the stripping process can be hazardous. FOLLOW ALL OF THE PRECAUTIONS PRINTED ON THE PRODUCT LABEL. WEAR GLOVES. PROVIDE FOR PLENTY OF VENTILATION. Wash all solvent soaked rags with soap and water and lay them out to dry before you dispose of them. Excess stripper may be saved in its original container for your next project. Tools and Products You Need:
Most paints and oil based varnishes you will encounter require the semi-paste stripper. Aging shellacs, lacquers and certain grades of varnishes can be dissolved with the solvent type (or cold stripper). If in doubt, try rubbing alcohol or lacquer thinner. If this easily removes the finish, then continue using this solvent-type stripper. It is does little to the finish, or simply softens it slightly, use a semi-paste stripper. Hint: Semi-paste strippers will stick to vertical surfaces, making the job easier. SYSTEM ONE Semi-Paste Stripper A) Shake stripper container and pour liquid into a second container; preferably one made of glass. B) With your brush, apply a liberal coat of stripper (approx. 1/8" thick) to the item being stripped. Brush in one direction only and try not to over-brush the area. Work in small sections of approximately two to three square feet. Allow the stripper to soften the finish. This can take anywhere from thirty seconds to thirty minutes and is characterized by a wrinkling of the old finish. Do not allow the stripper to dry out. If this occurs, re-apply more stripper and watch more closely. C) With the putty knife (you are wearing your gloves & goggles aren't you?), place the flat of the blade on the softened finish and draw with an even downward pressure towards you. If you angle the handle of the putty knife towards you, it will lessen the chance of gouging your project. Scrape off all of the finish, letting the stripper do most of the work for you. If you find that all of the finish did not come off, you may need to apply another coat of stripper. Rinse each section with lacquer thinner and scrub in with the medium steel wool or the nylon pad. Wipe the surface dry with rags. On some open grained woods such as oak or mahogany, it may help to use a brass wire brush as well as the putty knife. The brass wire brush is also very handy when stripping mined or carved pieces such as a table or chair legs. Continue working in sections until your project is complete. If, when you're done, traces of finish or lap marks remain, a thorough scrubbing with lacquer thinner and steel wool or nylon pad will generally help. D) Lightly sand with the grain of the wood. SYSTEM TWO Solvent-Type Stripper A) Pour a small amount of the stripper into a glass container. Saturate a piece of medium steel wool or a nylon stripping pad. Work in an area of a few square inches using a circular motion. Rinse the steel wool with stripper often to maintain an adequate supply of fresh stripper. Wipe often with rags. Continue until entire piece is clean. If lap marks appear, use fresh stripper and steel wool. Work with long strokes along the grain of the wood. B) Sand lightly using 120 or 180 grit sandpaper. Note: If the finish does not readily dissolve with the solvent stripper, it is a good indication that the heavier semi-paste stripper is required. The stripping process is an easy, but time consuming one. Just remember to take your time. If you have any questions, call or e-mail us, and we'll be happy to help; (206) 633-4200 or info@dalyspaint.com. |
