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What Kind of Acid Dip Do You Use on Cabinets?

Acid dipping is an intensive method of stripping paint or varnish. It’s primarily used for industrial-strength applications, such as refinishing old automobiles. In some cases, you may use the same process for rugged furnishings, such as a metal filing cabinet or even a wooden cabinet in some cases. Before using such a powerful stripping technique, have a professional appraiser confirm that your cabinet is not an antique or collectible.

  1. Oxalic Acid

    • Use oxalic acid for dipping your cabinet. Effective at removing stains and rust, oxalic acid is gentle enough to use on wood. It also restores the original coloring to lumber that has turned grey. Common stains removable with oxalic acid include tannin, iron and dyes. If you have a metal cabinet, oxalic acid may also prove effective, as it clears away rust. Common oxalic acid applications include automobile, antique ironwork and metalwork restoration.

    Sodium Hydroxide

    • Although not an acid, sodium hydroxide is the first chemical used in hot-tank dipping, typically followed by the oxalic acid bath. Also known as lye or caustic soda, sodium hydroxide is used on wooden molding, banisters, doors and sturdy furnishings. The lye is typically heated to around 120 degrees Fahrenheit before dipping. The dip usually slightly darkens the wood, but the oxalic acid lightens it. Given the highly abrasive effects of sodium hydroxide dips, they are usually only recommended as a final option for nonantique items when no other method removes paint or stain.

    Alternatives to Acid Dipping

    • Dipping a cabinet in acid is typically used as a last-ditch approach for removing particularly recalcitrant bits of paint or stain. For a gentler approach, first use a lacquer rinse, in which you dip the cabinet in methylene chloride and then rinse it with lacquer thinner. For an even simpler approach, physically sanding, scraping or burning the cabinet’s surface removes the offending layers.

    Considerations

    • When deciding whether to use an acid dip on your cabinet, consider the cabinet’s value and physical robustness. A wooden cabinet with delicate carvings or drawers may no longer function if an acid dip warps the lumber. Other possible side effects include excessive bleaching and stripping a wooden cabinet of its natural color. If you have reason to suspect that lead-based paints were used on the cabinet, you may expose yourself to harmful lead flakes through the stripping process, whether by acid dipping or even physical scraping. For personal safety and the cabinet’s preservation, consult a furniture restoration expert before picking a stripping method.

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