As you are aware, a fresh coat of paint is a sure way of rejuvenating that wooden surface. However, to get there, you must first get rid of the old tired paint that covers it. Every painted surface eventually becomes charred, cracked or forms blister looking protrusions. The paint looks as if it is pleading to come off.
You may have eventually bought a piece of old furniture, and you want it to match the theme of your home. It may also be that the wooden floor of your barn needs some TLC. Your kitchen door may be looking like it has come off an old folk tale. However, the case, you will need to get rid of that old, ugly looking paint surface and apply a fresh coat. The following will guide you in the process of stripping paint.
Things to consider before you start your stripping
It is always best to determine what kind of job you are facing before you throw yourself into it. Conduct your own assessment, and if the job seems too complicated, significant or hazardous to tackle by yourself, then there are several options you can choose from.
1. The first option you can consider is sending out the pieces to a professional. However, this only has to be the removable equipment such as a door, piece of furniture or window. Apparently, you cannot send your floor board over. Furthermore, the piece has to have some intricate details such as stair parts.
2. The second option available is hiring in. This is where your floor boards and kitchen shelf fit. Don’t try to handle a lead-laden surface by yourself. Stay safe and call a pro.
The three top ways of removing paint:
1. Sanding
Sanding is one of the easiest and quickest ways of getting rid of old paint on that piece of furniture. Unfortunately, this is only suitable for small projects. You cannot do it on your floorboards or walls. It is tedious, tiring and dirty. It is not a surprise to go halfway and abandon the project altogether. You might also want to take it easy when using wire wool or sandpaper. Causing damage to the wood is easy. Let the sanding process needs to be as even as possible. Make sure you don’t create dents and scratches by being as gentle as can be. Power tools are perfect as they will allow you to reach this evenness.
2. Electric hot air gun
An electric hot air gun is another way of removing paint on the wooden surface. It is a quick way, but there is a word of caution. It is easy to scorch the wood if you are not careful. Therefore, apply extra care when doing it. It would be incredibly awkward to strip paint off the wood and be left with dark patches all over. It will defeat the whole purpose of achieving a beautiful wooden surface that you can repaint afterward.
3. Chemical stripping
Chemical stripping is an excellent method of stripping that old and tired layer of paint. When it comes to those hard to reach places and complicated sections, chemical stripping will do the trick. However, it is essential to note that you will need a combination of both chemical and mechanical methods to do it. This is especially the case when you have several layers of negotiating before you come to that nice looking wooden surface. Chemical stripping is the most efficient and removes paint faster than the other methods. However, the method comes with its own issues. It is quite imperative that you apply safety and care measures when handling the chemical.
There are two main types of chemical strippers commercially available in the market. The first is the solvent paint remover which effectively gets rid of all kinds of finishes. In actual sense, these solutions are gentle on the wooden surface making them among the best. This kind of chemical stripper infiltrates the deeper into the wood brings out those stubborn paint finishes. The result is a natural and nice looking wooden surface. It is so good that you might confuse it with freshly cut wood. However, the method is not all good as you end up using a significant amount it. This proves expensive in the long run. Furthermore, solvents are a source of burn risk. They have an unpleasant smell, and you need to use it only in well-ventilated places. Chemical solvents are not so good at getting rid of thick paints.
The caustic paint removers are more efficient at removing most of the paint finishes on wood than solvents. Furthermore, their fumes are fewer and manageable. They are cheap, easy to use and tend to do their work in a swift manner. However, their downside is that they tend to have a strong alkaline which can cause staining of the wooden surface. This problem is common with oak and mahogany.
The process of stripping paint from wood
1. The first thing that you do is use a paintbrush to apply a thick coat of the remover. However, use a paintbrush that you can later throw away after you are done with your stripping. When working on intricate sections, make sure you are forcing the product into them.
2. Most chemical strippers require you to apply and leave them for some time to do their thing. Follow the instructions as different products work differently.
3. When the paint has finally gone soft, use a metal scrapper to scrap it off. A steel wool will effectively reach those stubborn stains but be gentle with it. An old toothbrush will reach those intricate areas that seem unreachable.
4. If at the end of the stripping you notice that it has not done its job effectively, you can go back and repeat the process again. In some cases, the manufacturer’s instructions may require you to wash the surface to get rid of the chemical.
5. Finally, give the clean naturally looking wood a few days before you can decide to repaint it.
Final Word
Wood paint stripping is a great way of giving your wooden surfaces a new lease of life. There are various methods that you can utilize and that include the mechanical and chemical methods. Whichever method you choose, apply extra care not to stain or damage the surface.
