How to Get Old Varnish Off the Woodwork

To best protect old wood, varnish should be reapplied every decade. Otherwise, the protection it gives can become patchy. However, you can't just reapply varnish because you will be left with a lumpy finish. To get a smooth finish, you must first remove the old layer. This can be done in an afternoon.

Fine grade sandpaper
Varnish or paint stripper
Paintbrush
Stripping knife
Brass bristle brush

Instructions

- 1
  Lightly sand the area you are stripping. By sanding the surface of the wood, you open it up to better absorb the stripper.
- 2
  Coat the wood in stripper with the paintbrush. Leave it for at least four hours. The varnish will begin to crack and peel.
- 3
  Test an area to see if it has penetrated down to the surface of the wood. Do this by stripping a small patch with the stripping knife. If the bare wood is visible beneath the stripped patch, the rest of the wood can be stripped.
- 4
  Remove the varnish from the rest of the wood with the stripping knife. If there is intricate detailing that prevents you from using the knife, use the brass bristle brush to get into those tricky areas.

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