In deciding to refinish the antique cabinet discussed in Heritage Rescue, Danny Lauzer knew that he had undertaken a difficult and time-consuming task. He had refinished several pieces of furniture before, but never one this big and with so many layers of paint.

Other options, such as taking it to a professional or leaving as is, were available to him but he felt he could do it on his own. And, he really wanted to. There is something about being able to refinish a piece of furniture that was built by your great grandfather. Danny was determined to restore and preserve this piece of his heritage for his own children.

Edie Smith, from Flashback Décor, offers the following tips for tackling larger projects such as refinishing the antique cabinet.

Step One:
Be sure that you really want to refinish the piece, because there is no turning back once you begin. Not all pieces need to be stripped and often have greater value if left with the original paint. There may also be a good reason why it was painted. Have a sense of what kind of wood you are dealing with. You can tell by looking in drawers, on the back paneling, underneath, or by scraping off a small piece of paint.

Step Two:
Once you commit yourself to the process, you need to ensure that you have the right kind of space to do the work. Proper ventilation is key, as you will be dealing with a variety of chemicals that can be quite toxic. Often a garage, work shed, or even a porch/veranda can provide the best work environment. It is preferable to have access to fresh air or at least circulating air. Do not attempt this process in direct sunlight, as it will dry the stripping agent too quickly.

Step Three:
Time is an issue, be sure that you choose somewhere that you can leave the piece unattended. Depending on what you are tackling, it can take anywhere from 8 hours to months to finish a piece of furniture.

You also need to make sure that you have enough room to spread out and that you protect any surrounding surfaces well. This is a messy process. The stripping agent can damage other finishes and especially plastic. You also need to be properly clothed; gloves and long sleeves are generally recommended. Some even choose to wear protective eyewear and facemasks.

Step Four:
Be aware that each refinishing project has its own set of problems, whether it is several layers of paint or unique design elements. You many want to take a picture and approach a professional for advice. There are also many resources available at bookstores and libraries to guide you.

Step Five:
Once you have decided that you have the space, time, resources, and energy available to go ahead with your refinishing project, you now need to arm yourself with the proper tools.

Generally, for refinishing projects such as the antique cabinet, you will need:

• Scraping Tools (many choose to use a wide putty knife)
• Paint Brush (natural bristle brush is best)
• Paint Strippers (both heavy-duty (gel based) and liquid stripper)
• Lacquer Thinner
• Container to put stripper in (a wide mouth glass jar works well)
• Steel wool (coarse to medium is best)
• Rags and paper towels
• Protective Gloves
• Protective Eye gear (optional)
• Face Mask (optional)
• Plastic Wrap

Step Six:
Now you are ready to begin stripping the piece of furniture. It is important to do only a small section at a time; otherwise the paint stripper will dry out and will be extremely difficult to remove. It is recommended that you use a heavy-duty paint stripper for multiple layers of paint. These strippers are gel-based and will also cling to vertical surfaces.

Start by applying the stripper on a small section, 12 inches by 12 inches. Place plastic wrap over top and let it sit for 20 to 30 minutes. This process will produce a chemical reaction that creates heat and prevents the stripper from drying out. The paint will begin to blister, making it easier to remove. Remove the plastic wrap and begin to scrape the surface. Continue this process for the rest of the piece of furniture.

Note: If the paint does not peal off easily after this process, it may because it is milk or vinegar based paint. These old paints do not always come off with traditional methods. You might try a liquid stripper instead. It is not advisable to use a heat gun as this may dry out the wood. Also, some older paints contained lead and become quite toxic when heated.

Step Seven:
Once you have removed as much of the paint as you can through this process, you now need to switch to a liquid stripper. Again in sections, apply the liquid stripper and finish this process by rubbing with steel wool. Repeat this process as many times as is necessary to ensure that all the paint and other finishes are removed.

Note: It is important to remember that liquid strippers will bleach the wood if it begins to run against the grain of the wood. Make sure that you rub away any excess with paper towels.

There may be some paint left over in some of the tougher areas such as dents and corners. You might try to gently remove paint from these areas by picking at it with a small tool like what you would use with nuts. This can be very time consuming and not always necessary. These areas can add character to the piece.

Step Eight:
The last step in this process involves "washing" the piece down with a lacquer thinner. This neutralizes the stripper and will remove some left over paint. Apply the lacquer thinner with a rag and go over the entire piece of furniture. The surface is now ready for the next phase. Finishing may involve a light sanding then the application of colour and varnish or oil and wax.

Flashback Décor
#207-950 Powell Street
Vancouver, BC
British Columbia
(604) 732-1899

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Scraping Tools
Paint Brush
Paint Strippers
Lacquer Thinner
Glass Container
Steel Wool
Rags and Paper Towels
Protective Gloves Protective Eye Gear
Face Mask
Plastic Wrap