How to Recover Particle Board Wood Grain

Stripping the Paint

• 1

  Strip off the paint with a chemical paint stripper. If possible, take the board outside for better ventilation. Apply the paint stripper over the board. Let the paint stripper set according to manufacturer instructions.

• 2

  Begin scraping off paint with a paint scraper. Go with the grain of the board. The paint should peel off easily. Keep in mind if the board has several coats of paint, it will take longer to get through all of the layers.

• 3

  Repeat as necessary. If all the paint did not come off, apply more paint stripper, wait, and then scrape off the remaining paint.

Using a Heat Gun

• 4

  Heat the surface of the board with a heat gun. Do not hold the gun too close to the wood; it will scorch. Wave the gun over the board and loosen the paint.

• 5

  Scrape off the paint with a scraper while it's still warm. If you have a stubborn area, re-heat it and then scrape again.

• 6

  Sand off any remaining paint with a fine-grit sanding block. If you have any remaining paint speckles on the board, sand them off with your sanding block.

Sanding the Paint Off

• 7

  Use a hand sander set to a low setting. If the board is less than a quarter-inch thick, do not use this method. Go over the surface of the board once.

• 8

  Repeat the sanding process if necessary. Use a very light touch so that you do not gouge out portions of the board.

• 9

  Sand the board smooth with a fine-grit sanding block. The top surface should be smooth to the touch.

Finishing the Project

• 10

  Apply wood stain to the particle board. Stain will help pick up the grain pattern. Pick the color of your choice and apply one coat with a stain applicator or a paint brush. Wait four hours for it to dry. If you do not want to stain the board, you can skip to step 3.

• 11

  Sand the board lightly with a fine-grit sanding block. Rough up the surface lightly.

• 12

  Apply one coat of clear polyurethane. This will protect the board and enhance the grain pattern. Let it dry for six to eight hours.