Quick Tip: Restore wood after painting
Painted wood furniture has become a trend over the past few years. Painting wood furniture gives you the option to breathe new life into old furniture, or change the look to complement your existing decor. But what if you don't like painted furniture and want to restore it to its original condition?
Painting wood furniture is an easy fix to change the look of dark wood, but it's not a permanent one. Today's range of paint strippers easily remove painted finishes.
YOU WILL NEED:
Paint stripper - we used Alcolin
Paint scraper
Paintbrush
Rubber gloves
Newspaper
Apron
HERE'S HOW:
GOOD TO KNOW: Certain brands of paint strippers can burn your skin, so be sure to wear protective clothing and rubber gloves.
1. For most paint strippers, pour a liberal amount of paint stripper onto the painted finish and spread with a paintbrush, following the grain of the wood. To avoid too much mess, it's a good idea to work in small areas at one time.
GOOD TO KNOW: Paint strippers are messy, so put down a dropcloth or newspaper to make for easy clean up.
2. Allow the paint stripper to sit for the specified amount of time. Read the label before you proceed so that you know how much time is required for the brand of paint stripper you are using.
3. Use a paint scraper to gently scrape off the finish. Hold the scraper at an angle to prevent scratching the wood. If you find it difficult to remove the softened paint, or if there are layered coats of paint, you may need to repeat the process until all the paint is removed. In this case, there were 5 coats of paint and a layer of varnish applied to the surface.
GOOD TO KNOW: Use an old toothbrush and Woodoc steel wool to remove paint in difficult or detailed areas.
GOOD TO KNOW: Place the removed gunk on a thick layer of newspaper.
GOOD TO KNOW: If there are numerous layers of paint or varnish, you may need to re-apply the paint stripper to remove all the layers of paint.
4. Use a damp cloth to wipe and then rub down with Woodoc steel wool to remove as much remaining paint as possible.
5. If there is still paint on the surface of the wood, sand with an orbital sander and 120-grit sanding pads. To remove paint from detailed area, use an old sanding pad and fold this over to get into tight areas or around curves.
6. Before applying sealer, wipe down with a rag lightly dampened with Mineral Turpentine.
7. To finish off I always prefer to use a Woodoc Sealer. Unlike varnish that sits on top of the wood, sealer is absorbed into the cells of the wood to nourish and protect. For the dresser I applied Woodoc 20 Polyurethane Sealer, which provides a finish that is resistant to water and acohol, and also protects against scratches.
8. Apply the product liberally with a paintbrush. You want the surface to remain wet for at least 10 minutes after application. If it doesn't stay wet, apply more product to any dry areas.
GOOD TO KNOW: It is necessary to apply a total of three coats, rubbing down with Woodoc steel wool between the first and second coat. Follow the instructions on the can for proper application.
