Expert: Eileen Cronk - 8/29/2009

Question
Hi Eileen,

Thank you so much for your time.  I found a cupboard about 1850's and in good shape but someone put a blue latex paint over what looks like a old cream oil paint. If you put tape on the blue paint and pull it off it showes the old paint below. My question is can this blue paint be removed and if so how?  The piece is 1800.00 dollars and befor buying it I would like to know what my chances are.
Again thank you for your time in this matter. And oh by the way I am very handy is this something I can do myself.
Regards,
Joyce

Answer
Hi Joyce
Nice to hear from you.
What a shame someone did this.
The chances of removing the blue paint and leaving the cream paint (original you think but perhaps its not), intact are not great.
You say a piece of tape will remove the blue and expose the cream underneath.
This is happening because the cream paint is oil based and the latex is not sticking very well over it.
Unfortunately there will be areas where the blue sticks very well.
These areas will be where the original paint has worn thin.
Joyce its not often I discourage folks from trying different things but I must in this case.
Its a painstaking process to do what you desire and its usually only done on museum quality pieces that are highly valuable.
It involves various methods of paint removal like scraping and strippers. You work in tiny sections at a time. Its a nightmare.
You asked "what are my chances of removing the blue paint?"
I have to say very bad.
Sorry I cannot offer more.
Kind Regards
Eileen