Best way to remove finish from carved furniture sections?
+6
I’m trying to restore an antique settee but I’m afraid to damage some of the intricate wood carving. Usually I just use use chemical stripper and a scraper. I would love some ideas on how to do this? Help, please.
Use Citristrip a safe non toxic remover.For the little details dab a q-tip in the solution
This is a tip I learned and appreciated very much. Yes Citristrip is wonderful not horrid smell . Paint on liberally and cover tightly with saran wrap, leave sealed up to 24 hrs. the longer the better and the old finish with just roll off. Use a toothbrush to work on the curves and crevasses. Follow directions. I love this stuff.
Gorgeous! try Citristrip and a few tooth brushes, q tips and orangewood sticks/tooth picks.
I would try a heat gun. There there will be no damage to clothe either.
Heat gun without a doubt.
I would use a chemical stripper. I have had great success using toothbrush to stimulate the saturation of remover in crevices. After it is liquified wipe off with PLASTIC scrapper. This is the magic part, wipe remaining stripper off with medium grade steel wool. The wool draws up and out any remaining stain, varnish and stripper out of the wood. On the turnings of arms and legs of the piece, steel wool can be drawn back and forth around tight curves and grooves. Just pull wool to make long fat threads. Nothing works better than this. Just make sure you go with the grain on flat surfaces. The wool will also remove the tiny burrs you get when you wet wood.
Speak to an antique dealer.
Take Barbara's advice and you will be pleased with the result, or if you don't want to go to that trouble, just rub down the top surface of the wood and leave the deeper bits. Paint over the top of item with a dry brush method, so you don't drip in to recesses, or just paint all over as you won't damage the inner parts as they will get no wear, or paint the inner psrts of the carving using an Art Bruah or maybe a Sharpie to highlight them.