Refinishing furniture is a great do-it-yourself project, through it can be messy. A chemical stripper is the quickest way to remove old finishes. Follow the directions and safety instructions on the container, and use a gel or paste on vertical surfaces.
Apply stripper Remove residue Clean with solvent
Steps for stripping and refinishing furniture:
- Apply liquid stripper to the old finish, and leave it on for the specified time.
- After the finish is soft, scrap off the old finish with a putty knife.
- Rub the surface down with steel wool or a plastic scouring pad dipped in the recommended solvent to remove the remaining finish and stripper.
- Sand the furniture starting with coarse grit sandpaper and working up to a fine grit.
- Apply a penetrating stain the piece. After a few minutes, wipe off any excess stain, and allow it to dry. Though they’re messy, rags give greater control than brushes when applying stain.
- Topcoat with several coats of a clear, built-up finish such as polyurethane.
Sand stripped surface Stain furniture Finish furniture
For more information, see our article on The Proper Approach to Refinishing Old Furniture.
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