Expert: Eileen Cronk - 7/30/2008

Question
I am trying to refinish a bedroom set that is i think from 1960's. It is painted an avacado green. I used a chemical stripper that took the paint off easily. however, under the paint there is a white, almost foggy, transparent layer that the stripper won't touch. I did manage to remove some of the white with laquer thinner and a stiff brush but it didn't work very well. The white is in the poes of the wood and i can't find anything to remove it. I worked for an extremely long tme on one small section thinking that it was coming off. but when the laquer thinner evaporated there was just a dull hazy white film over the area that i had worked. I've tried 3 different kinds of strippers, alcohol, mineral spirits, sanding, scrubbing with steel wool & brush. The wood is oak and on the bottom of the vanity it is stamped with "weathered Ash"
Any help you can give will be wonderful! I've already spent a great deal of money on products that won't work and still have 4 large pieces to go!

Answer
Hi Lori
Nice to hear from you.
What you are trying to strip is a paint grade dresser.
Sorry to tell you Lori that nothing will take this white off.
Not even aggressive sanding.
The wood was painted in its raw state and has absorbed into the pores. I have seen these 60's pieces that I swear the darn white was baked on and I really think some special process was used in its application.
You are only left with repainting the piece.
And take heart, you will have an excellent surface now to paint on.
Lori this piece will not be oak or ash.
This weathered ash look is actually a painting technique they used.
It was a white background with grey graining over that ...then baked maybe LOL.
I feel bad you have spent all this money and time on the piece but it will be a learning experience. I have had many.
Kind Regards
Eileen