How to remove spar urethane from an antique bare wood door?

Mari
by Mari

I need to remove Minwax Helmswood indoor/outdoor spar urethane (satin) from a 200 year old unfinished butternut door which a friend finished in error a couple of days ago. What should I use? I’d like to try to preserve its patina as much as posible. The spar urethane is still tacky.




  6 answers
  • Kelli L. Milligan Kelli L. Milligan on Oct 08, 2019

    Use Kleen Strip stripper. That's whatever use on fine furniture. Scrape off then wash down with Lacquer thinner and 000steel wool.

    • See 3 previous
    • Mari Mari on Oct 09, 2019

      It’s reacting to the natural oils in the wood. I’ve decided to stick to hand sanding the unintentional finish in order to remove it and I’ll later recreate the patina as close as possible to what it was.

      Thanks for the advice.

  • Citri strip is a good stripper

    • Mari Mari on Oct 09, 2019

      Thank you, Unique Creations by Anita. As I explain to Kelli above my well-intentioned friend only got to apply one coat of the spar urethane. But it is not drying and I don’t think that it can be scraped off.

      The product was intended for use on another project. My concern is that a stripper might soak into the wood and change its appearance as it had acquired such a beautiful patina over the years...


  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Oct 09, 2019

    Hi Mari,

    Guess you will have to hire an electric sander to do the job! Don;t forget the mask and goggles too........

    • Mari Mari on Oct 09, 2019

      Thank you, John.

      My well-intentioned friend only got to apply one coat of the spar urethane, but it is not drying and I don’t think I can use an electric sander as it’s a door with panels and grooves and stuff.

      I’m afraid an electric sander will put marks on it. I did some sanding last night by hand and it looks like I will have to live with loss of the patina. It also looks like it’s going to take lots of sandpaper as the stuff is not curing.

  • Mari Mari on Oct 09, 2019

    Thanks, Unique Creations. My concern is that since the spar urethane is not drying and cannot therefore be scraped off, that the stripper might soak into the wood and change its appearance. I guess I should say goodbye to the beautiful patina it had acquired. I had no intention of using the product on it as it was intended for another project.☹️

    • See 3 previous
    • Mari Mari on Oct 09, 2019

      I’ll test the stripping solutions on the back edge. I’ve been sanding by hand and it’s working. But I’ll probably use the stripper on the carvings on the door to avoid causing damage.

      Anita & Kelli, thanks a lot for the help.

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Oct 09, 2019

    Hello again,

    You may be able to regain some sort of patina by using Antique wax to finish it with after sanding. Good luck!

    • See 1 previous
    • Mari Mari on Oct 09, 2019

      PS- I’ll probably use a stripping solution as recommended by Kelli and Anita on the carvings. Thx!

  • I would use a stripper like citri strip to remove it.