How to remove old varnish from wooden furniture at home?

Mechanical method

The essence of this method is that the varnish is peeled off the surface. It is convenient to do this using a cycle (a special tool that looks like a carefully sharpened steel plate with a handle). The pressure on the base is quite strong because the handle is angled. You can buy such a tool or create it yourself.

If you do not have the necessary fixture at home, ordinary glass is allowed. To avoid injury, gloves must be used to protect the skin of the hands. Also, this option has a significant disadvantage - the glass quickly becomes dull.

In cases where there is little varnish on the wooden surface, you can use regular sandpaper. You can attach it to the grinder or apply it separately.

There are the following types of special devices:

The most affordable in terms of cost are vibration machines. With the help of such devices, you can clean pieces of furniture from varnish. Place sandpaper on the “sole” of the device. Then it can be used. During such work, a lot of dust usually appears, but this method is more effective than sanding the surface by hand. The base is smoother and more aesthetically pleasing.

It is worth considering that dust can get on objects that are nearby, so they will need to be protected. This can be done with polyethylene film.

Many people who want to remove varnish prefer mechanical processing of wood, because in this case they do not have to use chemical agents, which are usually dangerous to human health. However, the use of mechanical devices has one drawback - such work is not easy and requires a significant amount of time.

Some do not want to engage in mechanical wood processing on their own, but prefer to contact specialists. The use of professional equipment allows you to achieve the best results.

How and how to remove paint from a wooden surface

It is not easy to completely remove old paint from furniture surfaces, but we will give it a try. For this, special chemical solvents are most often used, which can be purchased in construction or specialized stores, as well as construction hair dryers.

Gently rinse the surface of the product with a dishwashing sponge. Instead of a sponge, you can use foam rubber or cotton fabric

Remove soapy water and dirt from the furniture surface by wiping it with a soft cotton cloth, first slightly damp, then dry.

First, let's look at how to remove paint from furniture using a solvent and a metal spatula:

Apply the solvent with a synthetic flute brush. Sometimes it is necessary to apply several coats of solvent to remove a thick layer of paint. Withstand the time recommended by the manufacturer.
When the paint has softened and begins to flake off the surface of the wood, scrape it off with a metal trowel.
Depending on the composition of the old paint and the number of coats it may be necessary to reapply the thinner to achieve more softening and swelling of the paint.

Acrylic paints will not adhere to oiled surfaces. To remove the oily coating, soak the metal in white spirit and wipe the surface in a circular motion.

Chemical solvents used to remove old paint and varnish are highly toxic and require outdoor or well-ventilated work.Then how and how to remove paint from a wooden surface, if you are unable to take the product out into the open? In this case, use a construction hairdryer. It is more difficult to work with it, but it is safer for your health. Direct a stream of hot air over the old paint and wait for it to swell, then remove the coating with a spatula or scraper.

Varnishing the floor in a new way

The application of new layers of varnish should be carried out only on the prepared floor.

The application of new layers of varnish should be carried out only on the prepared floor. Therefore, you first have to dry the boards well and clean them of dust.
Before applying varnish with a brush or roller, treat the wood with an antiseptic. In this case, you need to ensure that the wood is well saturated.
After the antiseptic is completely dry, you can start varnishing the floor. How many layers of coating to apply, decide for yourself, but always at least 2.
Since the acrylic agent dries from 2 to 4 hours, it is worthwhile to pause between the stages of varnish application. As soon as the previous layer is dry, you can apply a new one.

Consumption of acrylic varnish for wood floor is mainly 100-120ml / m2

Therefore, it is important to carefully calculate the amount of the required funds and buy it at a bargain price. At the same time, we note that the price of acrylic varnish at points of sale is from $ 50 for a 5 liter canister

It is worth remembering that the average consumption of varnish during the first application is about 1 liter per 8-10 m2. With repeated application of the product, its consumption is significantly reduced and already amounts to about 1 liter per 12-15 m2.

How to remove varnish from furniture by mechanical action

With the help of sanding, you can not only remove the varnish, but also level the surface of wooden furniture. Grinding is done with emery (abrasive) paper manually or with a grinder.

For easier hand sanding, use a simple piece of wood to wrap a piece of sandpaper around it.

After each sanding step, wipe off dust from the surface of the object with a slightly damp cotton cloth.

Before removing the varnish from furniture - buy a special device with a grip for sandpaper in a hardware store. It will allow you to distribute the sanding pressure evenly.

To sand rounded and convex surfaces, move the strip of sandpaper up and down at right angles.

First, let's look at how to remove paint from furniture using a solvent and a metal spatula:

Apply the solvent with a synthetic flute brush. Sometimes it is necessary to apply several coats of solvent to remove a thick layer of paint. Withstand the time recommended by the manufacturer.
When the paint has softened and begins to flake off the surface of the wood, scrape it off with a metal trowel.
Depending on the composition of the old paint and the number of coats, it may be necessary to reapply the thinner to achieve more softening and swelling of the paint.

Chemical solvents used to remove old paint and varnish are highly toxic and require outdoor or well-ventilated work. Then how and how to remove paint from a wooden surface if you cannot take the product out into the open? In this case, use a construction hairdryer.

We offer you to familiarize yourself with: Do-it-yourself furniture restoration restoration technology

After completing the work of removing old paint from furniture or doors, we often, unfortunately, find that there was nothing good under it - only putty and potholed wood. And now there is only more work with such a surface before applying a new paint!

But you can use a quick paint restoration method. To do this, follow the instructions below:

To restore the surface of furniture - remove paint only in those places where it has peeled off with a metal spatula.
Grind the surface of the product covered with old paint with a grinder, using first medium, then fine sandpaper. Don't try to peel off the paint, just line it up. If necessary, sand the entire surface of the product over the old paint, leveling and removing defects (for example, smudges and drops of old paint).
Fill all the cleaned areas using wood putty. The drying time of the putty is recommended by the manufacturer.
After the putty has dried, sand the surface again - by hand or with a sander.
After that, wipe the product from dust and re-paint the entire surface in two or three layers.

Remember to wear a dust mask when sanding. Handle chemical solvents only outdoors or in a well-ventilated area and be sure to wear rubber gloves. Follow manufacturers instructions for use, storage and disposal of solvent.

If your home is not the Hermitage, and your furniture is just an old shelf or bedside table, use this easy way to restore the paint finish.

Can be used for peeling varnish in separate areas. Using a wire brush or coarse sandpaper, remove the varnish in a circular motion. In hard-to-reach places, pick up with a spatula or screwdriver.

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An effective method is to remove the coating with a chemical solution. Protective clothing is essential. Dilute the special product with water according to the instructions. The resulting mass should be a homogeneous thick consistency. Using a brush, apply the product evenly, moving in one direction.

Just remove the remnants of the wash with an aqueous solution of vinegar: for half a liter of water, half a glass of vinegar. With this solution, use a sponge to quickly rinse the surface and dry with a soft cloth.

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How to remove varnish from furniture and return it to its original appearance depends on you.

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Funds

There are three main ways to remove varnish.

With the help of chemical compounds
Mechanical impact
Heating to high temperature

Each of them has its own pros and cons. This is not to say that there is a universal solution. For each specific case, a specific method of surface cleaning is selected. The choice depends on the composition of the varnish with which the wooden surface was covered and on the thickness of the layer. The type of wood base is also important, for example, different methods are used to treat wood floors and wood chairs.

Chemical Compositions

Another name for removing varnish with chemistry is a remover. This is the most common method for treating small areas of wood. It is used for furniture, figurines and other products, where the varnish layer is thin enough, and its removal should be delicate.

There are three types of chemicals for removing old varnish from wood.

Liquid. It is used if a thin layer of varnish is applied to the product. Liquid is a substance that quickly erodes from the surface. thus, it can only be absorbed into the topmost layer of varnish, but does not penetrate deeply. Using liquid furniture products that have more than three coats of varnish may not work.
Spray. The main plus is ease of use. The product is sold in a spray can, you just need to spray it on the surface you want to clean. In this case, the substance is converted into foam, which is actively absorbed into the varnished surface and corrodes it. On the other hand, a spray can only wash off a few thin layers, so it is only effective on delicate items.
Gel or paste. Used when a large area needs to be treated, such as parquet flooring. Suitable for removing thick layers of varnish, can even be used for paint.
Powder.The properties of the powdery composition are identical to gels. The fact is that before use, the powder must be diluted with water to a pasty state. And in a free-flowing form, the product is made only for convenience of storage and transportation. Thus, if you have large-scale work that requires a lot of chemistry, powder will be the best solution.

Thanks to the gel or paste obtained from the powder, ten coats of varnish can be removed in one application.

Mechanically

This option involves scraping, that is, you will literally need to peel off the varnish layer. For this, several types of devices are used.

Cycle. It is a pointed metal plate with a comfortable handle. Due to its special structure, it provides a strong effect on the surface. This means that the efficiency of work increases.
In the absence of a cycle, ordinary glass will do. However, there are two drawbacks here. First, the glass must be constantly changed as it quickly becomes dull. Secondly, you can only work with gloves.
Sandpaper. It is used when you need to remove a thin layer of varnish from a small product. A very small thing can be processed by hand. If it's a piece of furniture, such as an old dresser or wardrobe, then you can use a sander.

Any of the selected mechanical treatments are very dirty and dusty. This is especially noticeable if you use a sander. But there are many more advantages here. Firstly, you do not have to breathe in the chemical composition, the smell of which can remain on the wooden product even longer. Secondly, for the tree itself, this method is much better.

How to quickly remove varnish thermally

This is really the fastest way to remove nail polish. But it requires a certain skill and dexterity. The lacquered surface heats up to such an extent that it begins to swell and slowly fall off. At this point, it must be pryed off with a spatula and removed.

You can use a burner or a professional hairdryer to heat the varnish. The burner will melt the varnish faster, but its use is considered dangerous, because the work is carried out with open fire. If overheated, the wooden surface may well catch on fire.

The use of a building hair dryer is more preferable. But such equipment costs much more than a conventional gas burner. Do not confuse a building hairdryer with a household one. A household hair dryer can never get hot enough to melt the varnish. A hair dryer heats up the air to such an extent that the varnish cracks and leaves the wood quickly enough.

How to remove varnish from wood - with a dry hair dryer

Another option for removing the coating is thermal. It also needs additional tools, in this case - a building hair dryer capable of heating the surface to a temperature of 600 ° C, or a gas burner. A regular hair dryer will not work, even at maximum temperature. If you are looking for a quick way to remove varnish from wood - this is it!

But you need to take into account that if safety rules and technology are not followed, it can be dangerous both for the tree itself and for you - it is worth a little overdoing with heating the surface, and the varnish can flash.

You need to work with two hands - we hold the hair dryer with one and heat the surface, with the other hand with a spatula we scrape off the lagging coating. We work only in a ventilated area, with gloves on our hands and goggles. In addition, not every composition will react to heating - the surface may simply char, but there will be no peeling.

In this case, a wash will help.

Additional Information: DIY wood varnish remover

Thermal method. By firing a painted wooden surface with a blowtorch or a building hair dryer, the varnish is peeled off, and then removed with mechanical devices (spatula, chisel, sandpaper). The tree can change its structure.

The method is fire hazardous and toxic.

The essence of this process consists in heating the wooden surface, due to which the varnish is less firmly adhered to the surface. A good varnish remover for wood? In other words, the varnish begins to crack, after which you can pry it off with a tool (a chisel or spatula is suitable) and slowly remove it.

If you want the chemical to work as quickly as possible, create a compress effect. For this, ordinary polyethylene is suitable. Cover the treated surface and leave in this state for at least 1-4 hours. If the film is transparent, then it will be clearly visible under it when the varnish begins to swell.

If the chemical remover has changed color, then it has begun to work.

By and large, they get rid of old interior items because of their unsightly appearance - in terms of strength, they are able to surpass even the newest furniture. Information on how to remove varnish from wood can save many pieces of old furniture from vegetating in landfills.

It so happens in life that an old chest of drawers, a chair or a table, you are tired of its appearance, but its functionality has not ceased to amaze you. You have decided to change the appearance of this product, and the first step is to remove the varnish, but you do not know how to remove the varnish from the wooden surface. In this case, you need to get the correct information about it.

In this article, we have selected for you the most relevant materials on nail polish removal using various technologies.

Remove varnish from wood for different purposes. One of the most popular is the renovation of wooden furniture. The surface of the wood is exposed by removing the old varnish, and then the texture is renewed.

It is worth doing this only if the furniture has a beautiful wood texture, in the case of chipboard, it is better not to carry out such manipulations. It is very important to remove the varnish correctly. You can turn to professionals for help, but it's expensive

Many themselves successfully cope with this matter.

In most cases, old furniture attributes are sent to landfill only because they lose their aesthetic qualities. Often, such antique utensils can surpass some modern furniture in their strength. It is possible to restore the appearance of old lacquered wood furniture at home, so do not rush to say goodbye, for example, to chairs that, in your opinion, look disgusting.

Craftswomen, tell me, please! I have such a table, the tabletop is already scratched, in addition, the apartment is renovated and it would fit very well under the new interior, only decorated in the shabby chic style. But here's the problem, I'll sand the countertop, but how can I remove the varnish from the carved elements, and the varnish is clearly not water-based, especially black?

Of course, I would like to be able to paint on this varnish and paint with cream paint, but I think this will not work, and these are only my dreams.

Exposure to heat and moisture - how does paintwork react?

To remove varnish from the surface of furniture by the thermal method, heating elements are used - a blowtorch or a hair dryer, which help to soften the top layer and allow quickly clean the surface... When carrying out such work, you should be as careful as possible so as not to damage the wood. If the coating begins to char, smoke and bubble, this is a sign of overheating and work must be stopped urgently. For example, when working with a building hair dryer, many do not take into account that this is a device with a high heating temperature up to 600 ° C. As a result, the hair dryer is brought too close to the wooden surface, it begins to deform, turn black and becomes unusable.

However, if you adhere to several important rules, then removing varnish from wood using the thermal method is quite simple, fast, and most importantly high quality. The first thing to remember is not to heat the entire surface at once, but to heat its individual fragments with a blowtorch or a hair dryer. Keep the heater away from the wooden surface, without raising the temperature.After the paint and varnish layer has melted, it must be quickly removed with a spatula before it has time to harden again. We do this gradually with the entire surface of the furniture until the complete removal of the varnish coating.

The safest and most cost-effective varnish removal method is water. For him you need a basin of water, foam rubber sponge and coarse sandpaper... We dip a sponge in water, moisten the entire surface of the furniture, after which we take coarse sandpaper and repeatedly walk over the wood. We continue to repeat the steps until the varnish begins to flake off and turn into gruel. At the end of the work, the furniture must be thoroughly wiped, dried and processed with fine-grained emery paper to eliminate small roughness. This method is suitable for removing a thin layer of varnish.

Summing up, I would like to say that if you are going to cover the furniture with new paint and open it with varnish after removing the old layer, choose a remover to dissolve the paint and varnish layer, and if you tint the products with stain, use the mechanical or thermal method so that it lies flat. We hope that one of the above methods will work for you! Good luck with your work!

Types of chemical removers for removing coatings from wood surfaces

Solvent-based washes

Solvent-based washes are suitable for removing all types of coatings, including modern ones. Such washes are very delicate to the wood itself, so they are often used in the restoration of antique furniture. Solvent-based washes do not discolor wood, but they do a deep cleaning. On the other hand, they are very wasteful compared to caustic washes and are a little harder to work with. In addition, they can cause burns, have a strong odor and can only be used in well-ventilated areas.

Caustic washes

Caustic removers can be applied to most coatings and work well even on very thick paint or varnish coats. They emit less harmful fumes than solvent-based washes, are cheaper and act faster. On the other hand, they contain a very caustic alkali that can react with chemicals in the wood itself, which can lead to stains and opaline marks. Most often, caustic washes are applied to wood with a dense structure, such as mahogany or oak. Just like solvent-based cleaners, caustic cleaners can burn the skin.

Chemical cleaning

When working with aggressive substances, you need to take care of safety by wearing a protective suit, mask, goggles and gloves

The chemical washes contain acids that can burn the skin, so you need to work very carefully. You can buy a remover (mixture or powder for removing paintwork) at any hardware store

First you need to prepare a wash:

Read the instructions for use.
Mix powder with water in the indicated proportions.
Stir until smooth.

Stage 1

Apply a paste to the furniture surface:

Take a brush.
Soak it in a paste.
Apply generously to furniture.

Important! Brush movements should be directed in one direction (best from top to bottom). Repeated application of the remover to an already treated area is unacceptable.

Stage 2

We enhance the action of the wash by applying a film:

Cover the treated surface with plastic wrap.
Wait from 30 minutes to 4 hours (depending on the thickness and quality of the varnish layer).
Remove the film.

Important! The film can be removed immediately after the varnish layer has swollen and the remover has acquired a brownish tint.

Stage 3

Removing the varnish:

Remove loose particles with the non-sharp edges of a spatula (it is better to take a plastic spatula).
Take coarse sandpaper.
Treat the surface by completely removing the varnish.

Stage 4

Removing chemical residues:

Make a vinegar solution by mixing water and vinegar in a 5: 1 ratio.
Soak a sponge in liquid and treat the surface of the furniture.
Wipe with a flannel cloth.
Leave to dry outside or create a draft in the room.

Important! The tree reacts negatively to moisture, so you need to act as quickly as possible. Furniture must not be exposed to direct sunlight

Steps

Method 1 of 5:

How to remove varnish from walls

Method 2 of 5:

How to remove varnish from fabrics and clothing

1

Scrape off the nail polish. Try to scrape the varnish off the fabric with a plastic spatula or the edge of a knife. Do not try to wipe off the varnish with a rag, as this will only make the situation worse.
2

Use nail polish remover. Check the effect of the liquid on an inconspicuous area of clothing beforehand, as it can interact with paint and fabric (for example, nail polish remover dissolves acetate fibers).
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To check, apply some nail polish remover to the inside of the fabric.
3

Try rubbing alcohol. Pour some rubbing alcohol directly onto the stain and blot it with a clean rag. Blot the fabric with firm, quick strokes and do not scrub it so the varnish does not smudge and penetrate deeper into the fabric.
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4

Rub the fabric with baking soda. The baking soda is great for removing nail polish without damaging the fabric. Dampen a clean rag, dip it in baking soda, and gently blot the stain. When doing this, press down on the fabric with quick strokes.
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5

Then wash the fabric in water. After you have removed the polish from the stained area, rinse it in clean water to rinse off any remaining cleaning agent.
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If possible, machine wash the fabric. If this is not possible, blot the area cleaned of varnish with a clean cloth dampened in warm water.

Method 3 of 5:

How to remove varnish from carpets

Method 4 of 5:

How to remove varnish from wood and laminate

1

Rub the stain gently. Scrub the wood or laminate surface with a putty knife to remove excess nail polish. It should come off easily, but if you can't scrape off all the varnish, dampen a rag with warm water and apply it to the stain for 30 seconds. After that, the varnish should fall behind.
2

Treat the stain with denatured alcohol. Dampen a rag with alcohol and rub lightly on the stained area. Do not rub too hard or too long to remove paint or varnish covering the wood. Rub the wood along, not across, the polish marks.
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Method 5 of 5:

How to remove varnish from floors and tiles

Warnings

Do not try to clean wood surfaces with nail polish remover. This will only worsen the situation! Even if the liquid removes the varnish, it will erode the protective coating.
Before cleaning your clothes or carpet, be sure to test your chosen product on an inconspicuous small area.

About this article

wikiHow works like a wiki, which means that many of our articles are written by multiple authors. Volunteer authors worked to edit and improve this article to create this article. Views for this article: 17,096.

Categories: Household Tips

English: Get Nail Polish off Just About Any Surface

Español: quitar el esmalte de uñas de casi cualquier superficie

Italiano: Togliere lo Smalto da Qualsiasi Superficie

Português: Remover Esmalte de Quase Qualquer Superfície

Français: éliminer du vernis à ongles de n'importe quelle surface

Deutsch: Nagellack von fast jeder Oberfläche wegbekommen

Bahasa Indonesia: Menghilangkan Noda Kuteks pada Berbagai Permukaan

Nederlands: Nagellak van vrijwel elk oppervlak verwijderen

العربية: إزالة طلاء الأظافر من على أي سطح

This page has been viewed 17,096 times.

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About this article

Categories: Household Tips

English: Get Nail Polish off Just About Any Surface

Español: quitar el esmalte de uñas de casi cualquier superficie

Italiano: Togliere lo Smalto da Qualsiasi Superficie

Português: Remover Esmalte de Quase Qualquer Superfície

Français: éliminer du vernis à ongles de n'importe quelle surface

Deutsch: Nagellack von fast jeder Oberfläche wegbekommen

Bahasa Indonesia: Menghilangkan Noda Kuteks pada Berbagai Permukaan

Nederlands: Nagellak van vrijwel elk oppervlak verwijderen

العربية: إزالة طلاء الأظافر من على أي سطح

Thermal cleaning

Procedure:

Using one of the devices, heat up a small area from which the old varnish will be removed.
Remove the softened layer of varnish with a spatula or sharp knife.
Carry out the procedure carefully and quickly, without allowing the varnish to cool down.
Treat one area after another in the same way, cleaning the entire surface of the furniture.

Important! It is necessary to observe the temperature regime and the firing distance, otherwise the base of the furniture can be damaged. If bubbles appear on the coating or smoke is visible, then you need to immediately stop the cleaning procedure.

When working with aggressive substances, you need to take care of safety by wearing a protective suit, mask, goggles and gloves

The chemical washes contain acids that can burn the skin, so you need to work very carefully. You can buy a remover (mixture or powder for removing paintwork) at any hardware store

First you need to prepare a wash:

Read the instructions for use.
Mix powder with water in the indicated proportions.
Stir until smooth.