Liquid Vs. Paste Wood Stripper

Liquid Strippers

• Liquid wood strippers work best at taking off fewer or thinner layers of varnish, stain or paint. In some cases, liquid stripper formulations are more like a gel than a liquid, helping them stay moist for a longer period. Use a liquid stripper on fine detail work or to strip away the final layers of paint after a paste stripper has removed most of the layers.

Paste Strippers

• Paste strippers are very thick; in some cases, their thickness is comparable to drywall joint compound. Paste strippers are easier to work with than liquid strippers because they remain in place, adhering even on vertical surfaces, and present less trouble with drips and accidental spills. Paste strippers have a longer drying time, so you have more time before the product begins to dry out, meaning you can work on a larger area or several pieces at once. Paste strippers contain ingredients such as waxes, which form a skin over the top of the wet layer of active chemicals, protecting the strippers from drying out where they contact the wood.

Using Both

• Because each product has features that make it more effective in specific situations, you may need a combination of strippers to achieve the best results or to save labor. You can use both a liquid and a paste stripper in tandem, applying the thicker paste to strip away multiple layers, following up with liquid stripper to remove the last layers of material or to clean a piece up.

Application

• Chemical strippers may require special application to work properly. For example, you may need to coat the item you’re refinishing by brushing in one direction and minimizing your strokes, or you may need to apply a thin layer of product, followed by a thicker layer.

Considerations

• Research stripping products before you buy, because not all products are well suited for all surfaces or types of paint. Master Carpenter Tim Carter suggests you consider each product's thickness, strength, speed, wet time and water washability. Match the stripper to the material you need to strip and to the paint, urethane or other type of finish you need to remove. Strippers are available that are safe for removing lead paint. Safer stripper formulations made without toxic chemicals take longer to work, but perform better at removing latex paints, according to the Ask the Builder website.