You may want to remove the paint from the wood to repaint or refinish it. We explain the easiest ways to remove paint from wood. Depending on the size of the surface, choose the method below that works best for you.
How to Remove Paint from Wood?
There are two basic ways to remove paint from wood. The first is sanding. The second is to remove the paint from the wood with a paint remover. If you plan to repaint the wood, it is possible to repaint it without removing the paint. You can find details about this at the end of the page. Before you start stripping the paint off the wood, remove any nails, screws or stickers.
1-Removing Paint from Wood by Sanding
It is possible to remove paint from wood and furniture by sanding. However, removing paint from wood by sanding is a laborious task. Especially if the wood is large, it can be a lot of work. For this reason, a sanding machine can make the process of removing paint from wood much easier.
Get a sanding machine and sand the wood. If the wood is small, you can sand it without a machine using paper or sponge sandpaper. However, it is still difficult to remove the paint from the wood by sanding. To make it a little easier, you can use coarse sandpaper first and then finer sandpaper. Sandpaper with a thickness of 100, 150, 180 respectively can be a good choice. You can also make the job of removing paint a little easier by buying quality sandpaper.
Removing paint from wood by sanding can create a lot of dust. Therefore, if the wood is small, we recommend taking it outside.
2-Scraping the Paint off the Wood Using a Paint Remover
It is also possible to remove paint from wood using paint removers. However, you may need to apply the paint remover several times for very durable and thick-layered paints. Also, choosing a quality paint remover can make your job easier.
How to Remove Paint on Wood with Paint Remover?
- Make sure that the layer on the wood is paint, not coating.
- Remove any stickers, nails and screws on the wood.
- Apply the paint remover to the surface of the wood with a bristle brush.
- Wait half an hour for the paint remover to soak into the paint.
- Scrape the paint off the wood with a metal spatula.
- If the paint on the wood is not completely removed, repeat the application.
- Make sure the paint remover is washable.
- After you have completely removed the paint from the wood, you must also completely remove the remnants of the paint remover from the wood. Otherwise, it can also remove new paint.
- Above, we have described the use of a paint remover in general. Follow the application instructions for the paint remover you have purchased.
3-Consider Repainting Instead of Removing Paint from Wood
Many types can be repainted without removing them. To repaint, superficially sand off the paint or apply a coat of primer. This way, you can repaint the wood without removing the paint. If you want to paint without removing the paint on the wood, apply 1 coat of transition primer. Allow the primer to dry for 5-6 hours and repaint.
Other Alternative Ways to Remove Paint from Wood
- High pressure washers: High pressure washers can remove some types of boa.
- Heat guns: Heat guns melt the paint so that you can easily scrape it off. However, you should be careful when using this method on sensitive wood and furniture, as it can darken the wood.
- Paint thinner: Paint thinners can remove paint from wood. You can use synthetic thinner and cellulosic thinner to remove small paint stains from wood. If the stain is large and thick, cellulosic thinner is a better choice. Wet a cloth with cellulosic thinner and wipe the paint off the wood. “Before removing paint from wood, you may also be interested in this article: How to change the color of kitchen cabinets without painting?”
