How to remove a tough finish

This week we were honored to start refinishing/restoring a set of cherished bedroom furniture for a dear friend. She mostly loved them the way they were except she didn’t care for the high gloss finish on the tops of each piece and some drawers needed fixing.

Our main challenge this week was to remove the crazy, thick and durable finish, getting the wood down to its beautiful raw state. We have found from experience that this kind of task is ALWAYS labor and time intensive. 

Time to do a little experiment…we took one of the nightstands and split in thirds with some painters tape. We tested out 3 different methods:

1. Sanding only.  We like to start off with 120 grit sandpaper and see if that will remove the finish. (Many times it won’t and a coarser grit is needed, like 80 grit or even 60 grit.) After a lot of the finish is removed, it is necessary to then use finer grit sandpapers to achieve a smooth, silky surface that is ready for stain. We usually do 80, then 120 and finally 180.

The PROs of sanding are: 

-After the initial purchase of a good sander, it is inexpensive for sandpaper

The CONS of sanding: 

-It’s noisy - power tools are just loud (don’t forget to use ear protection)

-It’s dusty - a good dust extractor really helps with this. We use this sander: https://amzn.to/3iszlhu and this dust extractor: https://amzn.to/3vQSIUH

-It’s very easy to sand through a wood veneer surface. Most furniture has a thin layer of wood (veneer) glued to an unattractive substrate. The coarse grits needed to take off the top coats of polyurethane or varnish may damage the thin layer of veneer underneath.

-It can be extremely time-consuming to remove the finish and smooth the surface, especially in areas of the piece that are curved, have nooks and crannies or are carved.

2. Stripping followed by sanding. Paint strippers and removers eliminate all types of paint and finishes to reveal an object's original surface. 

The PROS of stripping are:

-Fast: not counting the “wait” time (which can range between 15 min. to 12 hours depending on the product), it is generally pretty fast to apply and remove the stripper.

-Safer than sanding: some old finishes contain lead and sanding them will release the particles into the air. Using a stripper dissolves the finish and helps to contain those particles in the sludge which is easily scraped off and discarded.

-It’s quiet: while this may not be a big deal to some, it is to us. We prefer to be able to talk or listen to music rather than the drone from power tools.

-It’s very effective for rounded edges and detailed areas with nooks and crannies. Sometimes, you just can’t get into those areas with sandpaper.

The CONS of stripping are:

-Many strippers are caustic/toxic and can be unsafe to work with. Eye, skin and lung protection are necessary. Fortunately, there are some water based products made without caustic chemicals which are now available. This is the non-toxic stripper we use: https://amzn.to/3ZmN6Px

-Cost: In general, using stripper will cost more than using sandpaper

-There is a wait time after applying the product. The more harsh/caustic versions work faster (as fast as 15-30 minutes) and the more eco-friendly versions may take 1.5 hours - 24 hours to do their job.

-It can be messy. You will need to protect surrounding areas from splatters or drips.

-Follow-up: In order to achieve a beautiful finish, some sanding will be required.

3. Scraping with a carbide scraper. Our scraper has become one of our favorite tools. This is the scraper we use: https://amzn.to/3CAGdjW

The PROS of scraping are:

-It is very inexpensive. After a small investment for a good scraper, you may need to occasionally buy new blades or learn how to sharpen the ones you own.

-It is very efficient. It is easier and faster to scrape off a thick and stubborn finish than it is to sand it off.

The CONs of scraping are:

-It can be a little intimidating at first. Don’t worry, you won’t ruin your wood. Be brave and try it!

-You need a good quality tool and a sharp blade or it won’t work well.

-It can be a bit fatiguing for your arms and hands. (For some of us!)

-It does make a scraping sound that may be a little irritating to some.

-It does not work well on curves unless you have a specialized scraper that fit those curves.

-Unless you know how to do “finish” scraping, you will have to finish the wood with a little sanding.

For this bedroom set with its incredibly thick and durable finish, we ended up doing a combination of all three methods for the best and fastest results. 

1- We did a light scrape to get the top layer of sealer off

2- Followed by one round of stripper

3- Once dry, we did a second round of scraping

4- Finally, we sanded with 120 grit and finished with 180 grit

That may seem like a lot of steps, but each step sped up the time and ease of the following step. All these steps were not necessary, but they did make our life easier than just choosing one method. Now the tops are completely raw and ready for stain. 

Have you put these methods to the test? Which is your favorite?

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