How To Use Paint Stripper DIY Ultimate Guide

Chemical strippers are the well-liked method of removing the finish from the wood. All strippers contain caustic chemicals, so follow the manufacturer’s recommendations to the letter and wear heavy-duty rubber gloves and a respirator when using them. Work outside or during a well-ventilated room.

The most commonly used chemical strippers are those containing dichloromethane. These are available as a thick semi-paste, designed to hold close vertical surfaces and in liquid form, useful when stripping a bit with carvings or ornamentation. Both contain a wax component that slows evaporation, allowing the chemicals to stay on the wood longer.

The following are the ways of using a paint stripper:

1. Wear protective gear

Before any step, you should put on your safety gear, including a respirator, safety glasses, and chemical-resistant gloves. You’ll want to wear the minimum protective gear working on this are a Long-sleeve shirt, Goggles, Facemask, respirator, and Nitrile gloves.

2. Test your chemical stripper

Once shielded, you’ll be practicing your standard paintbrush to implement the chemical paint stripper on a minute area of the wider surface. After you notice the favored consequence on your test range, you’ll be willing to attend the rest. The intention is that the product removes the paint on your test area without unwanted influences, including discoloration.

3. Prepare your surface

Thoroughly rinse the area that you’re stripping. Be sure to shed it of any dirt, loosened paint bits, and filth. It will reopen the openings in the painted medium, releasing paint remover to operate down into the various coats of paint created up over the ages. Review on best Paint for Trim & Cabinets

You may opt to utilize any sanding method on the exterior before stripping, but it isn’t essential. There’s no necessity to trouble anything cosmetic at this step, as that topcoat is getting off nevertheless. The only case there would be to sanding the surface is to, once over, assist it in ventilating so that the paint stripper may penetrate deeper down into those layers of old paint.

4. Apply the paint stripper

Seize your plastic sheeting, paint stripper, putty knife, and your cheap paintbrush. Dip the chemical stripper exercising your putty knife, and start to spread it onto the surface. You could also empty a little of the container onto your medium to start, depending on your surface. Applying your paintbrush, manage your spread into a quarter-inch layer of material, dispersed uniformly across the whole painted space that you’re stripping. Read our In-depth review on Best Satinwood Paints

The paint stripper spread doesn’t have to be smooth, even, or pretty. It’s all getting right back off anyhow. The ordinary applicator brush is also growing thrown out after you’re done. Please apply to the entire space, ensuring that the stripper doesn’t have sufficient time to dry before you coat it with sheeting. You may acknowledge cutting your sheeting into 3ft. or smaller square sections for convenience, ease of application, and removal.

5. Scrape and clean the old paint

Let the plastic sheeting rest on your surface for at least 30 minutes before trying to pull it off. Once that interval has elapsed, start to deliberately pull it back, guaranteeing that the plastic sheeting doesn’t tear. Ideally, you’ll notice a somewhat dried paint stripper peeling off along with softened paint, omitting your bare surface revealed. Best Outdoor Wood Sealer

Wherever old paint persists, scrape with your plastic paint scraper to waste those residing painted areas. Go back to step one and repeat the process on those stubborn areas. Immersing the previously scraped exterior with mineral spirits could also free any of this leftover paint that’s held your first treatment.

Keep in mind that this paint removal technique could create fine abrasions on the surface that may be challenging to remove later. Some form of steel wool is almost always necessary when removing paint from old furniture.

It’s great for getting into those decorative nooks and crannies that are commonly found carved into many antique wooden furniture pieces. If you intend on sanding, refinishing, and applying new paint after stripping, then using this fine steel wool is absolutely a viable option. Top 12 paint strippers for wood.