Request: suggestions on stripping a wood table.

[johnny2sav]

20 years ago my father saw a table in a dumpster and brought it home for my mother. 3 months ago I took on the task of cleaning it up and staining it. I knew that removing the layers of old paint and varnish would be a challenge. I’ve removed most of the paint, I’ve come to the point where I need suggestions. Below are photos of the type of thing I’ve been working on. Also, the second link are the different tools I’ve tried to accomplish the task, with the addition of Klean-Strip Stripper. My request is; how would you go about stripping the remaining stain, paint, and varnish?

Table
http://imgur.com/a/6ggTA#0

Tools
http://imgur.com/a/UezJR#0


Thank you for your time.

 

[91bronc300]

Tedious, but soda blasting.

 

[0.511MeV]

Scrapers and heat gun.

I prefer to avoid abrasives for stripping the finish, if you don't evenly abrade the surface, it looks strange when you put the new finish on. I prefer leaving as much character as possible.

 

[dittle fart around]

Acetone and steel wool will take the varnish off the turned pieces. Remember "Acetone it's not just for meth anymore"

 

[Regnar]

If it was me I would go through a couple more rounds of stripper. If that didn't take care of the rest of it a Heat Gun and Stainless Steel brush would be next. To finish everything up I would use a Sanding Mop in the 220 grit range.

You will start to loose the details if you start sanding now. Not to mention you will be there for ever going through the grits.

 

[MarkG]

My vote would be keep it drenched with the stripper for as long as you can stand it and then take handfuls of wood chips from your planer or jointer and kind of scrub the surface with that to get into the details. Grip around the turned part and squeeze and twist the chips with the grooves (same direction) Obviously, it will take some experimentation----maybe it won't work well with your project-----maybe it will work great! They're all different. I wouldn't hesitate to really heat gun it a lot too. (2 separate operations-----not with the stripper) Good luck.

 

[eric_koski]

Citrus strip gel stripper and a toothbrush and 000 steel wool + patience. Apply stripper and let it do its job. Scrub with toothbrush wipe clean with steel wool. When all the finish is removed, wash with mineral spirits, and let dry. Lightly sand with 180 grit sand paper an wipe clean . Apply gel stain of your choice, and then several coats of wipe on poly.

 

[johnny2sav]

I really want to thank everyone for all their suggestions.

 

[Kevin54]

You don't mention where you are at, but you may want to check the Yellow Pages for Furniture Stripping. There is a few around and they will dip strip the furniture. When you get it back, it nice and clean. We've done a lot of pieces like this. Then on most, we just used Tung Oil for a finish.

 

[kbs2244]

You have the right tools.
All you need now is patience.

You have to be able to turn the table over so that whatever surface you are working on is horizontal.
That lets the stripper sit and work.

BTW the “paste” style strippers are worth it.
The more MEK the better.
And a trick is to keep a tin foil wrap to slow any evaporation.

 

[theknurl]

use Certified Aircraft Stripper and a soft brass wire brush and water to clean it off

i do gun stocks with it and they smell like walnut even before they're dry

it works so well i'm surprised we can still get it

 

[rlitman]

You can use a wire brush, but it may be a little harsh. I generally start with cheap natural bristle chip brushes (most synthetic bristle melts in stripper), and cut the hairs until they're around 1/2" long. That makes the bristles stiff enough to loosen the old finish.

Apply the gel stripper thick. Keep it wet, and keep it moving around. Keep moving it with the brush until you're down to wood. Then get a dish of denatured alcohol, dip steel wool in it, and use that to remove the stripper until it is clean and dry.

 

[ZRX61]

soy-gel from here: www.franmar.com

or the stuff sold here: www.abrp.com

 

[metaleltr]

http://www.autobodytoolmart.com/klean-strip-aircraft-paint-remover-gar343-p-12815.aspx