How to remove varnish from old furniture

The restoration of old furniture is a fun and creative process, despite the many routine and physical work. How to remove varnish from furniture? Craftsmen and professional craftsmen share their secrets.

Today lacquered furniture is very popular.

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Is it possible to remove old varnish from furniture
- Surface preparation
- Choice of tools
Nail polish removal methods and process
Purchased processing aids
Folk remedies
How to avoid mistakes
Video: how to remove old varnish from furniture

Is it possible to remove old varnish from furniture

The restoration of any furniture involves, first of all, the removal of the upper decorative or varnish layer, which could be applied several times at different intervals. Such decorative outdated staining or old varnish cannot always be removed the first time.

lacquered furniture photo — It's a pity to throw away some objects, they are still quite strong, but they look unsightly because of the shabby varnish.

Surface preparation

Before removing old varnish, it is necessary to prepare the surface of the furniture for work. Many craftsmen, seeing the product in a very poor condition, are disappointed in advance and refuse further restoration. But under the top, ugly and cracked layer of varnish, there is often a solid and high-quality model. Therefore, do not pay attention to the appearance of the surface, but mercilessly remove it.

wooden furniture — Nowadays, you can restore furniture, you can remove the varnish at home. And the furniture will serve you for many years to come.

First, you need to thoroughly clean the working surface of the product from dirt, grease and fat deposits with soap and water. Rub heavily dirty areas with a brush. Make sure that the soap solution does not soak the wood, but only works on its surface. Then rinse with water, wipe dry and dry the material if possible.

wipe the furniture — You need to choose a product carefully so as to remove the varnish and not damage the furniture.

Choice of tools

Tools are the first assistants for working with wood surfaces. For high-quality, fast and accurate work, you will need:

sandpaper of various grain sizes for sanding small areas;
personal protective equipment, gloves and special glasses;
professional remover;
brushes, sponges, metal brushes;
construction hair dryer;
blowtorch;
construction polyethylene.

Nail polish removal methods and process

How to remove old varnish from furniture? We'll look at several ways to get rid of old coatings before applying new ones.

removing varnish from wood — Before embarking on such a responsible business, you should carefully prepare.

Chemical

It is easy to chemically remove varnish at home. With this method, a special liquid or powdery agent is applied to the old layer, which corrodes the top coat.

Carefully read the instructions on the package and prepare the chemical composition exactly as indicated.
If you have a gel wash, proceed to the next step.
Apply the paste in short strokes in one direction to the wood with short strokes in one direction. Use a brush to work through the entire area at a time.
Cover the treated surface with plastic wrap for an hour. As soon as the mixture darkens, it can be removed. The old varnish will gradually begin to peel away and bubble.
Using a spatula, after the time allowed according to the instructions, remove the top coat layer by layer.Then sand the surface with sandpaper, completely removing all small edges and remnants of the old varnish that are invisible to the eye.
The chemical composition must be removed with special agents, liquids or sprays.
At home, tap water in pure form or with the addition of vinegar is suitable for this.
Try to rinse off industrial wood strippers quickly so that moisture does not penetrate deeper into the material.

photo varnish remover — The furniture complex itself for chemical cleaning from varnish is called a remover.

Mechanical

The mechanical method of removing old varnish is more laborious and energy-consuming, but budgetary. To do this, purchase a special steel bristle brush. Such a tool efficiently and evenly removes the old coating, peeling paint and unnecessary varnish. The method is used in the case when the area of work is to be small, and the paint and varnish layer can be removed in whole pieces.

removing old varnish from wood — There are several options for the so-called machining. It is up to the buyer to decide which is appropriate.

Work the previously prepared surface of the furniture in a circular motion with a metal brush. She will peel off and clean off the old layers. Rub hard-to-reach areas with sandpaper.
If the brush doesn't help much, use a sander. It cleans even old, shriveled varnish.

Sander — Mechanical methods of getting rid of varnish are recommended for those who in the future plan to apply enamel or other types of paintwork on wood.

Thermal

The method of thermal removal of old varnish consists in preheating the furniture to be restored. This is done with a soldering iron or a hot air gun. The method is effective, fast and relatively easy to implement.

nail polish removal with wood hair dryer — A blow dryer or blowtorch is required when implementing this method.

Before starting work, do a preliminary test on a small area of unnecessary furniture. Heat the old varnish with a soldering iron or hot air from a hair dryer. The softened coating is scraped off with a spatula, spatula or knife.
Work in small areas. If you immediately heat up a large area and do not have time to clean off the varnish before it has completely cooled and hardened, you will have to repeat the work again.
Protect your hands with heavy gloves or mittens.
To prevent the wood from darkening under the influence of hot air, use the hairdryer at the same distance from the work surface.

removing varnish from wood with a hair dryer — If you don't work fast enough, the varnish will have time to dry again. After one fragment, move on to the next.

Water

The water method is suitable for water-sensitive varnishes. This is a simple and cheap way to remove varnish from old furniture at home. To do this, you need to well saturate the surface of the furniture with water. Dampen well with a sponge, towel or other absorbent material and wipe the varnished surface several times. Saturated with water, the varnish will gradually swell and move away from the wood.

removing varnish from furniture — Refers to the simple and safe options that are suggested in this case.

Purchased processing aids

Hardware stores have a wealth of suggestions for paint stripping. A wide selection of brands, packages and cans in various packaging weights and consistencies.

varnish remover — The work of removing old varnish from old furniture should be done evenly, without repetition.

Powders and pastes are considered the most effective. They remove old varnish coatings, especially if they have been applied several times in layers. Such products penetrate deep into the varnish structure and soften it up to ten layers.
Gel textures and liquids are convenient because they are sold ready-to-use. They do not need to be diluted or mixed. They remove layers up to three times and are less effective than powders and pastes.

Folk remedies

Craftsmen know how to remove polish from furniture at home.It happens that you do not have the opportunity to go to a hardware store and choose the right tool. Then ingenuity and what will be at hand come to the rescue.

furniture restoration — Regardless of the method chosen, it is important that the work is done quickly but accurately.

These methods include heating old varnish with a hair dryer or a soldering iron. Some craftsmen get used to doing it with an iron through fabric material. Soaking the furniture in water also helps to get rid of the old finish.

mechanical removal of varnish from wood — With a construction knife or a spatula, you need to clean the base from the paintwork that has been melted.

Acetone will help remove polish at home. It is an excellent solvent that works on par with professional products. Dampen a cloth or sponge with acetone and apply to the polished surface. To enhance the result, you can cover the furniture with plastic wrap.

How to avoid mistakes

Wood is a durable material, but it can be easily damaged.

She is afraid of moisture, swells and cracks. Therefore, any manipulations with liquids must be carried out quickly, do not let it stagnate and seep inside.
Do not leave furniture to dry in the sun. So the tree can become tarnished, windy and even cracked. Choose cool shade with access to fresh air.
It is better to remove decorative varnish from natural wood furniture. If you want to update your chipboard utensils, be prepared for the surface to crack and crumble.
Do not try to remove hairspray with a household hair dryer. It does not have the power to melt the lacquer texture.

remove varnish from furniture — The work of removing old varnish from old furniture should be done evenly, without repetition.

Removing varnish from furniture is often not difficult. If you do not have enough confidence in technology and your own strength, it is better to turn to specialists.