Begin by spreading the drop
cloth and several layers of newspaper under the piece. Make sure you have
good ventilation with no open flame nearby. Working outdoors above 70
degrees Fahrenheit or so is acceptable when out of direct sunlight and
strong wind. The warmer it is, the more efficiently the stripper will work.
Mask off any areas where you don’t want stripper, making an edge with the
masking tape and three or four layers of newspaper beyond that line.
Mix one-fourth to one-third
cup of TSP into the hot water and keep it close by with the rags.
With gloves on, shake the
stripper container well and fill the coffee can about halfway.
Apply stripper to the old
finish generously, brushing in one direction only. Allow it to puddle and
build up on the finish well. On smaller pieces cover an entire surface at
a time; on larger pieces try to divide it into 2- to 4-square feet
sections.
Vertical surfaces make the
stripper’s job harder so try to plan how to turn the piece in order to
work on horizontal surfaces of possible.
Once you’ve applied the
stripper, take a break for about 15-18 minutes to allow the stripper to
work. It will glaze over while it softens the finish beneath the surface.
Next it’s a good idea to
apply a second coat of stripper and wait four or five more minutes.
Then use the scraper to
remove the finish and stripper, going in the direction of the grain of the
wood where possible. Wipe off the scraper on a doubled-up sheet of
newspaper on your drop cloth.
If you can still see glassy
or smudgy remnants of stripper and old finish, apply one more thin coat,
wait a few minutes and scrape again.
Next, dip a piece of coarse
steel wool in the coffee can, and with a little stripper scrub the area
you’ve just cleaned in a circular motion to make sure no residue of the
old finish is left. Scrape again and repeat using the steel wool if
necessary.
Once you’re convinced you
have all the old finish off, immediately dip another clean piece of coarse
steel wool in the TSP solution and generously scrub the area. It should
not feel slick—if it does, dry the area with a clean rag and repeat
scrubbing with the steel wool dipped in stripper before proceeding to
clean.
Immediately after cleaning
with steel wool and TSP, clean the area with a rag dipped in the TSP
solution, then dry with a second clean rag. The TSP solution, steel wool
and rags may by re-used for any succeeding areas until too dirty to be
effective. (The purpose of the TSP is not only to aid in removing the old
finish, but also to neutralize any stripper residue left on the surface,
so as not to prematurely break down the new finish once it’s applied.)
If your piece requires
removing the finish in sections, simply lap over the previously cleaned
area.
Inspect the wood you’ve
stripped so far. Wherever you see a shiny or dark place, most often in
inside corners or around carvings, carefully remove the remnants of the
original finish with the corner of your plastic scraper of a pocket knife.
It should be soft and come out without much trouble. Remember to clean
these areas and dry as well.
When finished, (keep those
gloves on!), gather the newspaper, used steel wool, and rags, and place
into a sealed trash bag, preferably outside to dry before disposal. There
is not an extremely high danger of inflammability, but it pays to be extra
cautious.
Allow the wood to dry
overnight before proceeding.