Expert: Eileen Cronk - 11/2/2008

Question
I used light paint striper on a 30yr old black painted 1930 cedar chest. The stubborn spots I used Jasco and now have bleached colorless spots. I have tried several soakings of cedar oil but it dries out and still spots. Do you have a method/trick to restore these spots? Thanks.
--- Tom


Answer
Hi Tom
Nice to hear from you.
This can be remedied.
I see a few things you did incorrectly here.
First you should have used a heavy duty mc paint and varnish remover for this type of job.
Second you attempted to bleach off the stubborn paint spots.
You cannot remove paint like this..even paint residue if thats all it was.
There is only one remedy but it won't take long.
Get a small can of mc stripper.
Heres one I use
http://www.jamestowndistributors.com/userportal/show_product.do?pid=1694&familyN...
Do one side of the chest at a time.
Apply a thick coat, wait 10 minutes.
Rag off the excess. Then while the wood is still wet, rub vigorously with medium grade steel wool till the wood is nice and dry.
Repeat on all sides.
Tom even if you think you have all the paint already off on some sides, go over the entire chest again.
Next evaluate. Are there still bleached colorless spots?
If yes, you must now bleach the entire side in an attempt to remove this. And if this was my chest I would bleach the entire thing so there is no difference in the wood color.
Next rinse well with water.
Dry well and apply stain and finish.
I note you did not stain before applying oil.
I would recommend that you do.
This will also help even out the color.
Nothing dark of course. Pick something close to the wood color (when the wood is wet).
Good Luck
Eileen