Page 1 of 2
Stripping Old Finish
Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 12:01 pm
by tnerb
Does anyone have experience stripping finishes? I have a Coffee and two End Tables (Oak) that I need to strip and refinish. The price for a professional is waaaay out of my price range.
The finish looks like Lacquer or Varnish with the stain mixed in. I can see bare wood where the finish has cracked.
I have no idea what kind or brand of remover to use. Any help would sure be appreciated.
Brent
Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 12:22 pm
by beeg
There's a couple of products out there. Get one that is a gel type, so it does knot run. Try one of the citric base ones.
Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 8:34 pm
by mickyd
tnerb wrote:Does anyone have experience stripping finishes? I have a Coffee and two End Tables (Oak) that I need to strip and refinish. The price for a professional is waaaay out of my price range.
The finish looks like Lacquer or Varnish with the stain mixed in. I can see bare wood where the finish has cracked.
I have no idea what kind or brand of remover to use. Any help would sure be appreciated.
Brent
I have had good luck with
Citristrip from
Home Depot. I like the spray application.
Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2009 12:12 am
by tnerb
Thanks guys, actually was going to HD tomorrow and will look for the Citrustrip. I'm hoping that the finish will come off easily.
Brent
Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2009 12:20 am
by JPG
tnerb wrote:Thanks guys, actually was going to HD tomorrow and will look for the Citrustrip. I'm hoping that the finish will come off easily.
Brent
Give it plenty of time to work.(overnight) Not so long as to let it dry out though. Put it on thick!
Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2009 12:26 am
by tnerb
OK JPG, thanks.
Brent
Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2009 12:37 am
by mickyd
tnerb wrote:Thanks guys, actually was going to HD tomorrow and will look for the Citrustrip. I'm hoping that the finish will come off easily.
Brent
Make sure you have a plastic scraper to remove the finish. If you test a section and it didn't completely remove the finish down to the bare wood, apply more stripper directly on top of what's there. (this is where the spray comes in handy).
Keep us posted.
Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2009 10:30 pm
by tnerb
Will do, Mike
Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2009 11:13 pm
by tnerb
Sorry for the delay in reporting back.
I bought the Citrustrip and it actually works pretty good. Took the old finish off down to the tinted wood. Been using a toothbrush with Acetone to get into the nooks and crannies. After that's done I'll use Acetone and medium steel wool to give it a final going over. Then lite sanding and stain and finish.
Whew! Now I know why the stripping shops charge so much.
Brent
Posted: Mon Oct 26, 2009 7:57 am
by dusty
tnerb wrote:Sorry for the delay in reporting back.
I bought the Citrustrip and it actually works pretty good. Took the old finish off down to the tinted wood. Been using a toothbrush with Acetone to get into the nooks and crannies. After that's done I'll use Acetone and medium steel wool to give it a final going over. Then lite sanding and stain and finish.
Whew! Now I know why the stripping shops charge so much.
Brent
Yeah, except that they drop the whole thing into a big vat and it comes out completely stripped. Little or no hand work involved.