How to Strip a Wood Table

Stripping a wood table

• 1

  Disassemble the table by removing the wood screws or other fasteners.

• 2

  Set the table top on a separate work area that has been protected with a layer of cardboard.

• 3

  Place the table base on the cardboard.

• 4

  Put on your safety goggles and chemical-resistant gloves.

• 5

  Pour some of the stripper into a coffee can.

• 6

  Use a natural bristle paint brush to scoop stripper from the can onto the table top. Take care to apply a heavy coat to the entire surface until all areas are wet and equally coated with stripper.

• 7

  Let the stripper work at dissolving, softening or wrinkling the finish for 10 to 30 minutes. Wait until you see that the stripper has worked at releasing the bond between the wood and the finish or test it by running a scrapper between the stripper and the wood.

• 8

  Remove all of the stripper by carefully scrapping it off with a metal scrapper and avoiding scratching the wood top.

• 9

  Use an abrasive pad to remove the stripper from the table top edges or recessed areas.

• 10

  Pour lacquer thinner into a coffee can.

• 11

  Dip a clean, dry abrasive pad into the thinner and rub it on the entire top to remove any residual finish and the wax portion of the stripper. Wet the abrasive pad often to thoroughly coat the table top with thinner.

• 12

  Dip a cotton cloth in the thinner and rub it across the table top to wash away the remaining stripper.

• 13

  Look for any shiny spots that indicate the stripper and thinner has not removed the finish completely and apply another coat of stripper to them for 10 minutes and follow with the scraping, thinner application and removal steps again in those areas.

• 14

  Apply stripper to the table base and legs or pedestal by scooping it out of the can containing the stripping solvent. Be sure to cover all of the areas thoroughly.

• 15

  Let the stripper work at dissolving, softening or wrinkling the finish for 10 to 30 minutes. Wait until you see that the stripper has worked at releasing the bond between the wood and the finish or test it by running a scrapper between the stripper and the wood.

• 16

  Remove all of the stripper by carefully rubbing it off with a natural bristle paintbrush, with the bristles cut short, and avoiding scratching the wood.

• 17

  Use an abrasive pad to remove the stripper from the table base and legs, paying close attention to the recessed areas.

• 18

  Dip a clean, dry abrasive pad into the thinner can and rub it onto and around the entire base and legs to remove any residual finish and the wax portion of the stripper. Wet the abrasive pad often to thoroughly coat the base with thinner.

• 19

  Dip a cotton cloth in the thinner and rub it across the base and down the legs to wash away the remaining thinner.

• 20

  Look for any shiny spots that indicate the stripper and thinner has not removed the finish completely and apply another coat of stripper to those areas for 10 minutes and follow with the scraping, thinner application and removal steps again in those areas.

• 21

  Let the tabletop and base dry for at least 24 hours before reassembling it and refinishing it.