Learn the best way to remove lacquer from wood

lacquer from wood

Lacquer finishes on your wooden furniture are glossy and beautiful.

The finish acts as a protective cover for your wood and makes it look hard.

It also increases your furniture’s durability more effectively than most finishes.

When you decide to give your wooden furniture a new finish, it is crucial to explore the best way to remove lacquer from wood.

This is to ensure that you do not damage your wood in the process.

It is also the surest way to achieve great results.

  • How to identify lacquer finish

A lacquer finish will melt when a lacquer thinner is applied on the surface.

It only remains soft and solid, then the furnish is a mixture of shellac and lacquer.

  • How to remove lacquer finish

wooden cabinet Sometimes the lacquer may have other substances applied on it such as wax. These can be removed fast by washing the wood with turpentine.

Using a light brush, spread the thinner over your furniture. Ensure that every spot is covered.

For the lacquer combined with shellac, use a mixture of denatured alcohol and lacquer thinner. After ten seconds, quickly wipe out the solvent using a rough cloth.

This will keep the thinner from being lost through evaporation.

Apply the solvent again and wait for half a minute before you can wipe it off again. You can also have it stay to up to a minute as long as it does not dry.

Scraping the lacquer off the wood may be tasking so do it section by section.

It takes around two hours to completely get the lacquer off the wood, doing this well ensure that the work is effective.

Scraping off the lacquer can be done using a scouring pad, a scraper or steel wool. Ensure however to replace them once they get dirty avoid rubbing the lacquer back to your wood.

Use a sponge to wash away the remaining lacquer off the wood using the mixture of lacquer thinner and denatured alcohol.

  • Tips and pointers for best results

Divide your surface into small regions and work on each section at a time.

This will ensure that the job is through. Use clean cloths preferably coarse ones and keep exchanging them to avoid painting the furnish back to your furniture.

The paint brush should also be clean and preferably one that you can dispose after use.

  • Always clean the furniture by following the wood’s grain to avoid damaging it

Do this work outside the house and away from the children because lacquer emits Learn the best way to remove lacquer from wood (2)fumes that can be toxic.

Additionally, everyone working with the furnish should wear a mask to steer clear the fumes.

Mix an equal amount of denatured alcohol and lacquer thinner.

Mixing the solvents should also be done outdoors when wearing a respirator mask too.

The best way to remove lacquer from wood completely is by using a sand paper with fine sand particles to make your wood smooth thus eliminating all hints of lacquer. Ensure that you sand it lightly as too much force will damage the wood.

Finally, properly dispose off the waste for the lacquer removal job to avoid injuries.…