Removing Top Coat on Oak Door

An oak door can give your home a sense of solidity and permanence. Besides being resistant to insect and fungal attacks, the rich grain is both attractive and distinctive, and is evocative of majestic oak trees in a forest. You want to showcase such a wood door as best as you can. If the top finish of paint, varnish or other substance is marring the look of your oak, you can remove this top coat to display the wood in all its glory.

1/3 cup trisodium phosphate
1 gallon water
Bucket
Scrub brush
Paint stripper
Metal paint scraper
Metal file
Electric sander
80-grit sandpaper
200-grit sandpaper
300-grit sandpaper
Tack cloth

Instructions

- 1
  Mix 1/3 cup trisodium phosphate and 1 gallon water in a bucket. Submerge a scrub brush in the mixture and scrub the door. Allow it to air dry.
- 2
  Cover the door with a thick coat of paint stripper using an old paintbrush. Allow it to penetrate for five minutes or as designated on the package. As the paint stripper is penetrating, sharpen the tip of your metal paint scraper with a metal file.
- 3
  Scrape off the old finish with your metal paint scraper. When finished, attach a piece of 80-grit sandpaper to the bottom of your electric sander.
- 4
  Run the sander over the surface area of the door, removing the remaining finish. Repeat with 200-grit sandpaper and 300-grit sandpaper to bring the wood to a silky finish.
- 5
  Wipe down the oak with a tack cloth, wiping off all the dust from sanding.

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