How to Remove Paint from Wood

Wood is one of the best construction materials available to mankind. No wonder all our dear lush green forests are getting wiped out in the blink of an eye! Wood is used for building houses, furniture, boats, ships, toys, etc. With fresh coats of paint on them, they simply take on a splendid appearance. However, the paint applied does not hold on forever. Sooner or later the paint begins to peel off, leaving the furniture with a drag look. Removing paint from wood floors, furniture, and railings can be a cumbersome process. Let's have a look at some ways of removing paint from wooden furniture.

Removing Paint from Wooden Furniture

Wooden furniture gives a comfortable look to the ambiance of the room. The older the furniture, the more sentimental value it gains. Some folks possess wooden furniture passed down from their ancestors. The problem arises when this furniture loses its paint. Specks of paint eaten away here and there gives an unappealing appearance to the furniture. Repainting is the best solution, however, before this is done, there is another feat to be accomplished. The earlier paint has to be removed.

Step 1: Protective Gear
Before you begin the procedure of freeing the wood from the paint, it's important you wear gloves, mask and goggles. Wear a full sleeved shirt and pants (old clothes!) to cover yourself completely. It's always better to be safe, as the paint stripper used to remove paint from wood can be pretty nasty to your skin and eyes. Place couple of newspapers under the furniture. This helps clearing the mess faster.

Step 2: Ventilated Area
The best place to begin stripping paint off wooden furniture would be outdoors. However, if you do not have this facility, open all the windows of the room and leave the fan on. The basic point to be remembered is, that the room in which the paint stripping is carried out should be well ventilated.

Step 3: Methylene Chloride Application
After dusting the furniture off lose dirt, pour methyl chloride solution onto the wooden areas where the paint exists. If you want you could add some wax to the methylene chloride solution. By adding the wax, the methylene chloride solution will not evaporate so fast. Methylene chloride is strong and needs to be handled carefully, so do not forget to read and follow the instructions mentioned on the tin properly.

Step 4: Paint Dissolution
Use a paint brush to gently spread the methylene chloride solution all over the paint adhering areas. Use a toothbrush to get to corners. Brush only in one direction and avoid splashing the solution around. Cover the wood with wax paper. This prevents the methylene chloride from evaporating, thereby giving it more time to work on the paint. If you do not have wax paper, cover the furniture with a plastic sheet.

Step 5: Final Removal
When the paint has softened, bubbles will emerge on the surface. This is the indication that it's time to scrape. Peel off the wax paper or plastic sheet. Use a paint scraper or plastic spatula to scrape off the paint from the wooden surface. A gooey material will come off. Clean the wood with a clean rag that has been dunked in mineral spirit. You will have your wooden furniture free of paint and ready to be freshly painted upon.

If you are dealing with antique furniture, then it's better to contact professionals to repaint the furniture. It's not good to risk the piece of ancient family history. Moreover, if the paint does not seem to budge, do not scrape harder. This will only damage the wood. For stubborn patches of paint, just apply a second coat of methylene chloride. Also, do not forget to carefully discard the mess properly, especially the scraped debris. You need to check with your local hazardous waste office to find out how you need to dispose this waste.