Construction Equipment and Home Improvement Tidbits

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 use of chemicals is very effective as it does not leave any serious impact on the surface. But their waste is highly flammable and can be harmful to your organs. Avoid eye and skin infections by using safety equipments. The use of a protective eyewear or gloves can save you.

Usually the proprietary strippers are methylene chloride based: as paste sticks to vertical surfaces, they are better options than liquids. Rather than brushing, the stripper you dab and dollop it with a grass, nylon brush or with dispensable paint brushes. The main reason behind doing this is to keep a thickness on the surface which will help it to immerse in and lift up the older finish. For bits and pieces that are left behind use a knife or a wire wool to scrape it off layer by layer.

For dissolving the wax easily and prevent quick drying of the liquid mixture (water or white spirit), ready-made strippers are often used. In case the old furniture and veneers are too wet, make sure that you melt some glue. Strippers can be non-washable for better results but can be wiped with a water or spirit to give better finish.

Though caustic soda is very common, it cannot be used as proprietary strippers in most of the cases. It can be used by thickening the paste with any paste or starch. The right proportion is 1kg of crystal to a bucket of water. Avoid using it on the veneered pieces. Always make sure that the crystals are well mixed before the application.

Sometimes, you may notice some white sediments or deposit in some of the mahogany furniture. These are usually plaster of paris and commonly used as filling materials. To make such surface polished, you can scrub it using a wire brush and linseed oil. Once completed, start the sanding process for a better finish.

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