Strip Drawer Pulls With Citrus Stripper
Removing old varnish and stain can give wood a fresh start. Sanding is one of the most common methods, as it cuts through varnish and stain, and reveals a fresh layer of wood. Although sanding is fast, it produces a great deal of fine-particle dust, which is easy to inhale, and it can remove more wood than you desire. If sanding is out of the question, you need to strip the wood instead. Stripping also is quick, it removes almost no wood, and there are a few methods from which to choose.
Choosing a Stripping Method
Liquid and gel strippers soak into the finish to loosen it, and heat guns work by softening it; both methods require scraping. Most liquid chemical and citrus-based gel paint strippers remove varnish and stain. Chemical strippers work in as little as 30 minutes, but the fumes may be overwhelming. Citrus strippers have less odor, but they work slower and may require two or more attempts. Avoid citrus strippers that require water rinsing, as water raises the wood grain, which requires light sanding. Heat guns soften varnish and stain within a minute or two, making it rubbery. Standard heat guns can quickly char the wood, but infrared heat guns produce less heat. The least-expensive way to strip while covering the most ground is a traditional chemical stripper, with citrus strippers being a bit more costly. Standard and infrared heat guns are expensive, but reusable; they require minimal time to soften varnish and stain, but only cover one small area at a time.
Preparation
Chemical and citrus strippers can mar the surrounding areas. If you're stripping a staircase, for example, protect the walls and floors at the head and foot of the staircase with drop cloths and painter's tape. Moveable items such as tables or cabinets also need a drop cloth underneath and painter's tape around any fixed parts or accents you don't need to strip. Where possible, remove hinges, bolts and drawer pulls to strip the wood item more completely. If you've chosen a chemical stripper, move the item outdoors or ventilate the room as much as possible with open windows and fans. If you've chosen heat over liquid or gel strippers, use drop cloths to catch the softened varnish as you scrape.
Stripping With Liquids and Gels
Liquid and gel strippers are brushed on, and an inexpensive, natural-fiber craft paintbrush works as well as an expensive brush. Chemical-resistant gloves and eye protection are important, even with milder citrus products. Liquids are thinner and work faster than citrus gels, but they dry faster; closely monitor the stripper's progress and don't let it dry on the wood. If the item is large, apply stripper to an area that is approximately 1 linear or square foot and remove it before moving to the next area. When the stripper has softened the varnish enough for scraping, the surface appears wrinkled or bubbled. Scrape off the varnish with a paint scraper or a putty knife. You can use a stiff-bristled scrub brush to remove varnish from fancy, curved details. Some of the stain may linger after scraping. To remove it, dampen a soft, fine-grade steel-wool pad with more paint stripper and rub it against the wood, following the wood grain, then wipe off the softened stain with a rag. If the stripper requires rinsing, use the method the manufacturer recommends. Some chemicals require dampening a rag with another chemical such as turpentine and wiping the item, but adhere to the manufacturer's guidelines.
Stripping With Heat
Heat guns work quickly, but cover less ground at one time than chemicals. Hold the gun as far from the surface as the gun manufacturer recommends, then scrape off the softened varnish and stain with a paint scraper or putty knife before it cools. Traditional heat guns produce intense heat, so use caution not to char the wood or burn your skin. Infrared guns are used the same way as traditional heat guns; they still can burn your skin, but they do not produce as much heat as traditional guns. A heat gun might leave more stain behind than liquid or gel strippers, so you may need steel wool, rags and turpentine or stripper to loosen the last traces.
Strip Drawer Pulls With Citrus Stripper
Source: https://homeguides.sfgate.com/quickest-way-remove-varnish-stain-sanding-45220.html