Strippers

[Superman]

I think you will agree that not all strippers are equal. This thread is about the difference between good strippers and bad ones.

The woman who, thankfully, runs my house and makes me happy is on a furniture refinishing vector. He is sanding and painting some wood chairs for our veranda in delightful colors using brightly colored latex paint and clear polyurethane, and the results are expected to be very pleasing. She tried stripping them using a very popular stripper which did little to strip the chairs and left an orange residue behind. She abandoned the stripping idea and is just sanding and painting, which likely will work great.

Now she is talking about refinishing the crappy, cheap night stands in our bedroom and I am concerned for her sanity. These are dark-stained things which she hopes to re-stain. This, I think, means thoroughly stripping the existing finish. I am skeptical about stripping furniture that I think was previously stained, particularly using stripper which does not work but leaves orange residue. I think she should sand and paint them, but I wonder if stripping is a viable option.

I can recall, years ago, using a stripper that worked. It was a clear jell (not orange) which did a great job of lifting and dissolving the paint which could then be easily scraped off. Am I dreaming, or was there such a thing? Is there such a thing as a really good stripper, and where can I find it / her?

[Hockey fan]

Years ago when we were working on our fixer-upper first home we spent forever removing paint from all the original 1920 woodwork. At that time the Jasco "Speedomatic" was hands down the way to go. Worked much better than regular Jasco which means it probably had horrendous ingredients. We also tried citrus-based strippers and nothing would come close to the Jasco. We joked that we knew it was working when a tiny splash would land on your arm above your gloves and immediately start burning through your skin. After giving plenty of time to air dry we never had issues putting new stain back on the wood.

I currently do restoration of vintage fiberglass things and the citrus strippers work great on those as they're not nearly as aggressive.

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by Superman

I think you will agree that not all strippers are equal. This thread is about the difference between good strippers and bad ones.

The woman who, thankfully, runs my house and makes me happy is on a furniture refinishing vector. He is sanding and painting some wood chairs for our veranda in delightful colors using brightly colored latex paint and clear polyurethane, and the results are expected to be very pleasing. She tried stripping them using a very popular stripper which did little to strip the chairs and left an orange residue behind. She abandoned the stripping idea and is just sanding and painting, which likely will work great.

Now she is talking about refinishing the crappy, cheap night stands in our bedroom and I am concerned for her sanity. These are dark-stained things which she hopes to re-stain. This, I think, means thoroughly stripping the existing finish. I am skeptical about stripping furniture that I think was previously stained, particularly using stripper which does not work but leaves orange residue. I think she should sand and paint them, but I wonder if stripping is a viable option.

I can recall, years ago, using a stripper that worked. It was a clear jell (not orange) which did a great job of lifting and dissolving the paint which could then be easily scraped off. Am I dreaming, or was there such a thing? Is there such a thing as a really good stripper, and where can I find it / her?

It was in a blue metal quart or gallon can if I'm not mistaken. I used something like what you describe to do some chairs years... and years ago. It'd burn your skin if you got it on you but DAMN would it take paint or stain off of wood. I'd put it in a spray bottle, spray it on, then use a scraper or steel wool to remove then apply once more and I was done.

[A930Rocket]

I have to say, I’m really disappointed because of the subject title and the subject. 😂

[Superman]

Originally Posted by cabmando

It was in a blue metal quart or gallon can if I'm not mistaken.

We find ourselves on the same page again.

Thanx, Hockey Fan. I will look for this product. Yes...it burns like Hell on your skin.

[MBAtarga]

Is this the product you're thinking of? We used it to strip our kitchen table to refinish it.

[Bill Douglas]

All I can add is get the surfaces really clean (clean of stripper) before adding top coats. Some can be very caustic.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

I have to say, I’m really disappointed because of the subject title and the subject. 😂

Yep!

[tabs]

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

I have to say, I’m really disappointed because of the subject title and the subject. 😂

Bait and switch.

[Racerbvd]

[craigster59]

Seeing the title, I had great expectations of being able to contribute clear, concise and expert opinions on the subject matter.

Then, after reading the first three posts, I realized it wasn't the area of expertise I was familiar with.

I got nothin'.

[herr_oberst]

Methylene has been outlawed for use in strippers. That's why the stuff 20 years ago used to work great and the current junk wouldn't take gum off the bottom of a shoe.

You might look into stripping services that dunk the wood in a big ol' tank of death.

[unclebilly]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

Methylene has been outlawed for use in strippers. That's why the stuff 20 years ago used to work great and the current junk wouldn't take gum off the bottom of a shoe.

You might look into stripping services that dunk the wood in a big ol' tank of death.

So your saying strippers these days don’t use meth?

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by unclebilly

So your saying strippers these days don’t use meth?

Probably "over opiated" - T. Hip

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

Methylene has been outlawed for use in strippers. That's why the stuff 20 years ago used to work great and the current junk wouldn't take gum off the bottom of a shoe.

You might look into stripping services that dunk the wood in a big ol' tank of death.

Are ya tryin to get him divorced!?

[LEAKYSEALS951]

Strippers need to strip fast. If they cause a rash, so be it.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by cabmando

Are ya tryin to get him divorced!?

... from the big ol' tank of death?

[1990C4S]

I have found that lacquer thinner works as a stage II, before the stripper 'dries up'. Steel wool and tough fingers help. Thick gloves if you're a pussy. (I felt compelled to use that word).

I have also had good luck with heat plates, not the guns that blow air, just an element in a metal shroud. Use that t get 90% of the top coat, then strip, thinners, and sanding. Be careful. It's easy to burn the wood.

[cabmandone]

So you're saying we should put gloves on our cats if we're using that stuff?

[dad911]

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

I have to say, I’m really disappointed because of the subject title and the subject. 😂

I was expecting a thread about tools.


I used some stuff called 'Soy Gel' years ago to strip an outdoor patterned concrete sealer. Worked very well, yet didn't kill our landscaping. Probably went through 20 gallons on a 1000 sf patio and walks. Sprayed it on, covered with thin plastic so it wouldn't evaporate/dry up, and let it do it's thing.

If you're not a fan of the "crappy, cheap night stands" I recommend the all natural way to remove the finish. Put them outside for 6 months, and let them weather. Good furniture might survive, and the finish will be trashed. Particle board not so much......