Three Different Ways To Strip Wooden Surfaces
The three basic stripping methods which can be used are heat, sanding and chemicals. Most likely you are to use two regardless of the piece. The application of any of the method or methods makes it uncomplicated for you to tear up the piece as you want; this might be removing drawers, fittings and shelves among other stripping activities.
Being a mechanical method, sanding is significantly a consistent way of stripping and most likely you will be unable to dismantle or remove everything from nooks or canneries without any chemical aid. The power and weight of the belt sander is perfect when there are layers over layers and it has to pass through, particularly paint; but it is not considered the ideal tool for expensive and treasured furniture.
The use of heat is okay. But using a blowlamp (blowtorch) can affect the furniture indeed. Hot-air strippers are doing a better job and the task gets easier. But the biggest drawback is that, if you take your notice away from the machine for a while, it can burn the fine wood in seconds. If you apply French polish and lacquers, the risk can be minimized and the originality can be maintained.
The most useful and least damaging are chemicals, but while using chemicals its flammability should always be borne in mind. Chemicals are extremely injurious to eyes and skin, so, proper protection methods such as rubber gloves and goggles must be worn while using them. Along with these, you must always neutralize it before use.
The use of proprietary strippers allows a better finishing. These are methylene chloride base paste that can be easily applied to the vertical surface and are better than liquids. You can use a nylon brush or dispensable paintbrush for the application of the paste. The use of this method can help in leaving a better finish. Make sure that you work in layers and the use of a knife or wire wool can help in a better scraping and polishing.
Either water or spirit (white spirit) is generally used to neutralize ready made strippers since it mixes the wax that is used to avoid quick drying. It should be kept in mind that if in case you get older furniture and surfaces more wet than required you will most likely dissolve the glue. There are also strippers which are upheld as "no wash" which are useful. But, other than surfaces and veneers it would be harmless to wipe them with white water or white spirit.
Even though caustic soda is not an easily usable proprietary stripper, still it is popularly used. In order to make use of it firstly, it has to be coagulated into glue through whiting, starch or even wallpapers. To achieve the right consistency one kilo of crystals should be added to a bucket of water. But you have to be cautious while using it as it should not be used on polished pieces and the crystals should be dissolved into water and not water in crystals.
Plaster of paris is also commonly used for grain fillings. For better results, scrub with a wire brush and linseed oil in the empty parts and carry sanding as per the need. This is mostly used in the mahogany furniture.
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