Buying an old piece of wooden furniture is now a huge trend as people are more into retro and vintage vibes these days. And if you are someone from this group of people, you’ll know how some beautiful wooden pieces often come with paints that are pretty worn out and not so fancy. But the fact that you can learn the paint removal process and apply it to get this old piece to turn into something iconic makes things a bit optimistic.
And that’s when a guide like this on how to remove paint from wood without chemicals comes to play.
How to Remove Paint from Wood Without Chemicals at All Using 5 Methods.
You could be wondering why would anyone want to remove paints without chemical involvement. I mean what’s wrong with a bit of it. Well, the old wooden furniture was probably been used for years. And so, they are clearly not in their best shape once you buy them. Being a bit gentle on them and avoiding chemical involvement are the least two favors you should not mind doing to them.
Thankfully, removal of paint without involving any chemicals is not a limited task and you’ll find multiple ways to carry things out. Let’s talk about the most practical and popularly used methods below.
But First, Make Sure You Don’t Miss Out on Taking Precautions!
The area you will work inside needs to have enough ventilation. Outdoors is an excellent choice for such projects.
If you cannot take the project outside, then make sure you’re taking lots of breaks while working. Go out in fresh air and then come back to continue. This will decrease any negative effects of vapors inside.
You might work with solvents and products that should not get in touch with open flames as well as smoke. So, make sure you are far from those hazardous elements.
Put on your rubber gloves and also the safety goggles. You need those for personal protection and no it’s not avoidable.
Com-bust issue of oily rag can show up. So, make sure to get rid of those as soon as possible. Keep them inside the water until proper disposal.
Your kids can come and cause an issue too. Make sure they are far from the place you choose to work.
Vinegar Can Help.
To get rid of the paint you can use a very easily available item from your kitchen. And that’s vinegar. More than paint removal, it also provides some deodorizing and cleaning effects. That’s like a party of multiple benefits.
Now technically vinegar cannot remove the paint. But it surely softens the thing so that you can easily get rid of paint. And you do that by scraping. It’s easier and faster this way.
You want to boil some vinegar in your microwave. Or just boil it on your kitchen stove. Then use a brush to apply the boiled thing to paint. And let it stay like that for a while. You can test the paint and see if it’s yet soft enough.
If not then let it stay until the substance is soft enough to come out with scrapping. And that’s basically all you need to know about using vinegar for paint removal from wood.
Bring a Pressure Washer in The Scene.
Sometimes the paint removal needs to be done on a huge surface. Something you cannot think of scrapping. That’s when a pressure washer seems the right solution. Usually, the matter is about exterior of a house or fence and deck areas.
Start by preparing that spot. You want to make sure the water cannot enter your house when working. Then bring a pressure washer with a 2500 PSI rating at least. 3000 PSI rating ones are the best, so if you can manage get those.
When using, make sure to avoid any hardboard siding. As there will be moisture and damage issues.
Spray the surface while moving with the wood grain direction. This should get rid of the paints gradually. You can stop when the surface is almost clean. If there’s any residue of paint remaining, then go ahead and use another method to get rid of it.
Sanding is The Best Method.
When you don’t want to involve chemicals, the most suitable method then becomes sanding. Definitely, you need to buy good quality sandpaper for this task. There are even wood paint removing sander available these days.
However, do keep in mind that sanding is a very dusty method. So, you don’t want to do it inside your living room at least. Also never forget to wear a proper mask when sanding. One problem with sanding is that it needs plenty of your time. And so, if the removal of paint is from a huge surface, things won’t be very easy.
However, some people still choose to go for sanding even on wooden walls. Because the after results are actually worth the time and effort. Plus, you don’t have to include a toxic chemical.
Using Wire Brushes & & Infrared Devices.
For smaller surfaces that have unwanted paint, wire brushes are going to work very well. This thing can even go towards the trickiest corner and get that paint marks out. However, you also need to use some grease for working along with the wire brush. Don’t go crazy with it, apply constant but gentle force. And eventually if the paint marks are not hardcore enough yet, it’ll come out.
Infrared devices are more new but effective ways of removing paint from the wooden surface. Here there’s no chance of spreading any dust while removing paint. You simply heat the upper layer of paint.
And this does not involve burning the underneath the wooden surface. The melted paint then needs simple wiping for it to go away. Make sure such devices are never in contact with metal items around as well as windows.
Eco-Friendly Paint Removers
There are many soy-based gel paint removers that do not include any toxic chemicals in them. The same goes for a few citrus-based paint removers. You can leave these for a long time and there’s still no fear of stripping problem.
There are biodegradable ones that are good for the environment. If you use it properly, the results can be better than chemical-based paint removers. The citrus paint removers need you to apply it on target surface, leave for a while and scrape with a paint scraper. Both works excellently for paint removal from the wooden surface.
Also Read: Best Random Orbital Sander for Woodworking to Buy | Latest Picks
Wrap Up
And now you know how to remove paint from wood without chemicals or any toxic solvents. Rejuvenating a dull surface does not require you to go for harsh ways. It could be done simply when you take the step of looking for convenient and safe methods.
Hopefully, these 5 methods will work in your favor, or at least one out of all would. After the removal, go ahead and apply a stain or paint of your choice. The new layer will give it a graceful glow and some slight protection.
