How to Strip Paint from Furniture – Prep Work
In order to have a fresh clean start for your project furniture, a key step in prep work for DIY furniture is to remove or strip old paint. This paint stripper tutorial will explain step by step how to remove old paint from wood furniture using chemical paint strippers.
Not sure if your furniture is real wood? You can check the real vs faux wood photo gallery and checklist to find out.
Why Remove or Strip paint from Wood Furniture?
Why would you want to strip the paint off of painted furniture? Usually, you can just scuff it up and then paint over it. You would want to strip the paint if the wood is real wood furniture, and if you don’t plan to repaint. Although, you could.
If you want to have the stripped-down raw wood look, but the furniture already has a layer of paint, then this technique is going to be your new BFF. Another time that it would make sense to strip the paint off furniture is when you have REALLY old paint, probably lead paint, and are unable to sand it without blowing lead paint particles in the air. Avoid lead paint particles!!
This process outlines how to remove paint from furniture using chemical strippers, such as Citristrip. You can also use a heat gun or move straight to sanding. If you do move straight to sanding, be aware of the possibility of lead paint. Avoid breathing it in at all costs.
remove paint from wood Furniture
Materials
- A stripping agent. I am using Citristrip in my example, but you can also use Klean Strip. Both of these products can also be found at Wal Mart.
- A paintbrush to apply the stripper. I used a 1.5″ angled brush by Wooster Pro.
- A metal scraper like this. You can also find these at Walmart, or your local hardware store.
- Dropcloth. I use canvas, but you could also use plastic. Be aware that the chemicals will affect/damage the floor if spilled.
- Protective gear such as safety glasses and rubber gloves. Avoid getting any chemical strippers on your skin.
Step By Step Instructions
Step 1: Clean with a damp rag, vacuum inside and out. Minimize mess as much as possible.
Step 2: Use a stripper like Kwik Stripper or Citristrip, apply using instructions on the product, and let sit. Chemical strippers can take up to 30 minutes to fully develop, and the fumes can be overwhelming. Be sure to wear a mask and prep your furniture in a well-ventilated area.
Step 2.5: If there are multiple layers of paint, there is another optional step of wrapping with saran wrap to let the product “develop.” This can really expedite the process.
Step 3: Use a metal scraper, don’t get the plastic. You’ll be heading back to the store for the metal one. Using a metal scraper, scoop and scrape off the paint. Note: Do not expect the paint to all lift off evenly at once, you may have to repeat steps 1-3 to remove all the paint, this is expected! ‘
This step is by far the messiest, and you may want to consider using an old coffee tin or bucket so that you can scoop off the mess and contain it somehow. Ask me how many times I’ve stepped in a mixture of stripper goop and paint and then stamped it around my garage floors…. don’t ask. The answer is A LOT OF TIMES.
Step 4: Sand! Using either an electric sander or sandpaper, we want to even out the tone of the wood to make sure it is ready for your next step! Whether your next step is painting or staining, or even just sealing the freshly stripped wood for a raw wood look, sanding is the final step of the stripping process.
Next steps for your wood furniture project
Next steps, you can refinish your wood furniture with paint, stain, or you can seal it up as is to give it a raw wood look. If you want an antique look, check here for a tutorial.