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Elma D&P

Upcycling : polish / strip

Do you want to renovate a piece of wooden furniture? If it's already been painted, you'll need to start by removing the paint from the wood. Then you can give free rein to your imagination to give it a new lease of life.


Different techniques for removing paint from wood:

- Chemical strippers for wood

The first solution you can use to remove paint from a wooden surface is a fluid or gel stripper. With this process, you can remove paint, wax or varnish that has been applied to a wooden surface. Chemical strippers are both quick and easy to use, as they can be applied in much the same way as paint.

When applying it, be sure to follow the product's instructions for use, as the instructions may vary depending on the stripper chosen. The stripper softens the layer of paint or varnish. Then simply use a spatula to remove the residue and leave a clean surface. You can repeat the operation until you have removed all the layers of paint and achieved the desired result.

At the end of the process, you'll need to rinse off the stripper with water or a solvent (white spirit, for example). All you then have to do is wait 12 hours for the surface to dry. However, some no-rinse products allow you to skip this stage.

Always wear protective gloves and goggles when working. The photo below shows what happened to me.




-     Heat gun

Thermal strippers take the form of a gun that projects extremely hot air. This heat removes the paint or varnish applied to your surface. Don't worry, there's no risk of burning the wood if you use the stripper correctly. It's quick, easy and effective to use.

This solution is ideal for large, flat surfaces, but is not suitable for mouldings. It will heat the wood too much in the grooves. You should also be careful when using it, as burns can happen very quickly.

Once you've stripped your surface, you can use a spatula to scrape off any paint or varnish residue. Some heat scrapers are directly equipped with scrapers for 2-in-1 use. So you can save time renovating your wooden surfaces.


- Baking soda and white vinegar

Looking for a natural, non-toxic solution to strip your wood? Baking soda and white vinegar can be used as a natural stripper to remove paint residues from your wooden surfaces. You'll be able to restore the original wood without damaging the surface.

To strip your wood, simply sprinkle it with moistened bicarbonate of soda, then add white vinegar. Leave for about 10 minutes. It'll foam up, but it's very effective. Finally, brush the surface vigorously to remove any paint or varnish residue. As well as being natural, this solution is extremely economical!

It's also a great way to clean and strip metal objects.


- Sanding

If the layer of paint you want to remove is fairly thin, you can also opt for sanding. This solution will require a bit of elbow grease, but it's also very effective and environmentally friendly. You can use a sheet of glass or a sanding sponge.

For a smooth, clean result, you can start sanding with a coarse grit and then gradually reduce to a finer grit. This way, you'll get a perfectly smooth wooden surface, without a trace of scratches. Make sure you protect yourself when sanding with a mask, protective goggles and gloves.



At Elma D&P, we favour eco-responsible solutions: manual sanding and/or the bicarbonate of soda/white vinegar combo.


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