Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 7: Get started
• Method 2 of 7: Using sandpaper
• Method 3 of 7: Using a heat gun
• Method 4 of 7: Using a chemical paint stripper
• Method 5 of 7: Using a scraper
• Method 6 of 7: Using chemicals
• Method 7 of 7: Refinish the wood
• Tips
• Warnings
• Necessities

As everyone knows, removing paint is very difficult. In this article, you will learn 5 methods for gently removing paint from a wood surface, after which you can finish the wood with paint or varnish. Try one or more of the following methods and see which one works best.

To step

Method 1 of 7: Get started

1. First, make sure the wooden object is dry. If it's wet, dry it with a cloth, a hair dryer, or even a heat gun that you keep a safe distance from the wood to avoid burn marks or fire. Wear your work gloves all the time to avoid blisters and splinters, as well as a face mask and all necessary protective equipment.

Method 2 of 7: Using sandpaper

1. Get a reasonable amount of two-grit sandpaper. First, get coarse sandpaper for the first sanding job (removing the unwanted paint) and then some pretty fine sandpaper to finish the sanding and polish the wood underneath. First sand with the coarse sandpaper and then with the fine sandpaper. Do not sand too hard, as friction creates heat.
2. Know that you can sand the wood more easily with an electric sander. Sanding the wood completely is a very difficult and frustrating job when a lot of paint gets on the sandpaper quickly. The wisest thing to do is to sand the wood with fine sandpaper once you've removed the old paint job. Make sure to sand with the grain of the wood. Failure to do this will scratch the wood surface and ruin the entire project.
3. After sanding and polishing, remove the sanding dust on the wood surface. You do this by wiping the wood with a cloth that you have slightly moistened with paint thinner. Then you can start painting.Make sure the wood surface is very smooth. If it is a small object, brush or blow the dust off with a brush. If there is sanding dust on the floor, wipe it away.

Method 3 of 7: Using a heat gun

1. Know that this method is a lot easier, but also very dangerous. You need a heat gun. Make sure to wear gloves, goggles, and a face mask for this job. Also, make sure you have water near the wood so that the surface you are working on does not catch fire. Turn on the heat gun and hold it 6 to 8 inches above the painted wood surface.
2. Heat small parts of the wood. However, do not heat too much of the wood, so that the wood does not become too dry and there are no burn marks. Move the heat gun slowly over the surface. Run the heat gun over the part of the wood you're working on right now. Move the heat gun from side to side and from top to bottom without stopping.
3. Scrape off the paint. When the old paint layer has softened by the heat, scrape away the wrinkled pieces of old paint. When the paint layer starts to bubble and wrinkle, scrape it off immediately with a wide paint scraper. Treat a small area at a time until you have had the whole object.
4. Turn off the heat gun and clean up so that nothing gets in the way. Now comes the tricky part, namely sanding and polishing as described above.
   • Stay calm if the wood catches fire. Most of the time you will only see small flames. If the wood does catch fire, turn off the heat gun, unplug the power cord, and pour water on the fire.
5. Smooth the wood surface. Sand the surface with sandpaper in the desired grain size. You use sandpaper because it will smooth the object and remove the paint that the heat and scraper couldn't remove.

Method 4 of 7: Using a chemical paint stripper

1. If the job gets too difficult, use a chemical paint stripper. Choose the right stripper, because there are different types depending on what you want to use it for. Read the directions on the packaging carefully before you start using the product. Most chemical paint strippers should be applied in the same way, but there may be slight differences between different products. Always follow the directions on the product packaging.
   • Liquid chemicals are often applied with a spray can and are usually used to remove protective layers or multiple layers of paint.
2. Shake the container with the liquid and pour the entire contents into a container that is open at the top.
3. Cover your paintbrush with enough liquid to cover an average-sized spot with a few strokes. You can also use an aerosol, but spray at a distance of 10 centimeters from the wood.
4. Cover the object with the liquid using your paintbrush. Spread the paint stripper on the wood in one direction. Do not iron over areas that are already covered with paint stripper.
5. Let the stripper sit for a while. How long that is depends on how much of the stripper you have used, but you can expect about half an hour to an hour. You may notice the paint getting "softer".
6. Test whether the drug has worked. Run the blade of a paint scraper across the surface in circular motions. If the scraper removes the paint, then the chemical has worked well.
7. Use a paint spatula to remove any softened paint. You can do this when you think the paint is soft enough to scrape off the surface. If it is a door, always treat one spot next to the previous one until you have done the whole door.
8. Then sand the object with sandpaper. You can use an electric sander if the object has many flat surfaces, or you can sand by hand if the object has many curved or awkward spots.
9. Rinse the surface of the wood with a cloth soaked in enough solvent to remove the residual paint stripper. Sand and polish the wood as described above.

Method 5 of 7: Using a scraper

1. Use a scraper if it is a thick coat of paint or large amounts of paint such as bumps.
2. Sharpen your scraper by running it in one direction over a metal surface. This way you can sharpen the end of the scraper. Scrape both ways. It should now be easier to scrape the paint off the surface.
   • If the paint is still too hard, apply some vinegar, turpentine, or water to the wood. You may notice that your scraper is dull after each scrape, so sharpen your scraper again.
3. Realize that you need to perform these steps carefully. You can use the scraper to remove not only the paint but also part of the wood. This method only works if the wood has been polished or if it is a wooden floor.
   • Scrape the paint straight off the wood and take it easy. That way you don't accidentally scrape some of the wood away.

Method 6 of 7: Using chemicals

Wear a face mask and gloves during all these steps to avoid accidents. Also wear long pants and a long-sleeved shirt.

1. Have all the chemicals ready to be used to remove the paint. Make sure nothing is in the way. This method is best used if the paint is on polished wood.
   • You can use a cleaning agent, flaxseed oil (raw or cooked), acetone, lacquer thinner, or paint thinner. Keep in mind that these last two resources are very strong. Also, don't let the cleaner come into contact with your skin, as it can make your skin very dry, smooth, or wrinkly. Wash your hands after use.
2. Using a cotton ball, apply some of the chemical to the paint coating. Now you can scrape off the paint with a scraper or wipe it off with a cloth.
   • Pay attention: if you ingest or inhale the chemical and poison yourself with it, have another call their doctor or 911 if the pain is excruciating. However, this is unlikely to happen if you wear the personal protective equipment described above. Be very careful every step of the way.
3. Wipe the surface after scraping the paint off. When you're done, don't forget to tidy everything up to avoid dangerous occurrences, such as children drinking from the chemical bottle. Don't forget to wash your hands.

Method 7 of 7: Refinish the wood

1. Cover the wood with a coat of clear wood lacquer or varnish if you want to refinish the wood.
2. Do not apply too much lacquer or varnish. Don't forget to apply three coats in this order:
3. Apply a coat of lacquer.
4. Sand the wood.
5. Apply another coat of lacquer.
6. Sand the wood with very fine sandpaper.
7. Apply the final coat. Do not sand the wood after applying the final coat.
8. Paint the wood in one direction only if you do want to paint the wooden surface. Always apply a new layer after the previous layer has dried. Choose the right type of paint and, if you wish, apply lacquer to protect the wood.

Tips

• Cover the wood with varnish to make it shine.
• Through foam sanding blocks to use, you can sand a lot lighter and more effectively. You can buy them in different sizes at hardware stores and DIY stores.
• You can also use a burner instead of a heat gun. This works faster, but be quick to extinguish any flames.
• It is better to use coarser sandpaper if you want to sand the surface faster. However, if you want a smooth surface, it is better to use finer sandpaper.

Warnings

• Be careful with the heat gun and all tools and supplies you use. Paint and solvents are highly flammable. You could get an electric shock, so beware!
• By covering a wooden surface with varnish, you will be able to see mistakes made very clearly. So don't forget to sand with the grain of the wood.
• Wear gloves and don't sand too hard with the sandpaper. Doing so can cause blisters and ruin the job.

Necessities

• Gloves
• Face mask
• Safety glasses
• Paint
• Transparent wood lacquer (optional)
• Heat gun (only for method 3)
• Water (only if you use a heat gun). Remove the plug of the heat gun from the wall socket first. There is a good chance that you will receive an electric shock.
• Sandpaper of any grit size. (If you want a smoother surface, use finer sandpaper with more grits. If you want to work faster but want a rougher surface, use coarser sandpaper with less grit. Ask a hardware store or DIY store for help.)
• Electric sander
• Chemicals
• Chemical stripper