Expert: Eileen Cronk - 9/29/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hi, I have a couple of Windsor chairs (1993) and they are painted  blue.  I purchased them blue, so I don't know anything about the paint. There appears to be only one layer, and they haven't been painted under the seat. What would be the quickest, easiest,tidiest way of removing the paint?  (Ontario)

ANSWER: Hi Joycelyn
Nice to hear from you.
Unfortunately there is no quick,easy, or tidy way to remove paint from furniture.
Its one of the messiest time consuming jobs there is.
And I can likely save you a lot of headaches and time when I tell you that if you purchased these chairs new in 1993, and they were painted when you got them, you will not like the look of the wood after the paint is removed.
These will be paint grade furniture and never intended to be a wood finish.
But they can certainly be painted again.
If the paint is not original, the paint can be removed with paint stripper.
If you need the full stripping info just ask.
Let me know.
Kind Regards
Eileen

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Eileen, Thanks for your reply. The chairs are good, they are made by Nicol's and Stone.  You can tell by the underside that someone has painted them.  The painter didn't bother to paint the underside of the seat.  That is where I located the date and the manufacturer.  The date is actually June 15, 1995.  It is a very fine coat of paint.  I think they were trying to get the "country kitchen" look.  So, I guess I was hoping for an easy stripping method as there are not layers of paint.

Answer
Hi again Jocelyn
Well just one light coat of paint won't be as messy as removing multiple coats but its still messy.
You may be lucky and find the paint just falls off with stripper.
I am including the stripping info for you.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR STRIPPING FURNITURE
The first thing you must do is assemble the material to do the job.
The stripper is the most important item.  
I am hoping you can get "CIRCA 1850" brand paint and varnish remover in your area.
Here is a link
http://www.jamestowndistributors.com/userportal/show_product.do?pid=1694&familyN

MATERIAL LIST For the stripping stage.
1 gallon stripper
3 boxes of Bull Dog steel wool in medium grade.
One 3 inch oil based paint brush.
Rubber gloves (like you do dishes with), and a pair of cotton gloves inside the rubber ones.
People react differently to stripper. A lot of people feel heat through the rubber gloves, but I feel cold. Have no idea why.
An empty large coffee can. (for the stripper)
A couple of old tooth brushes.
Lots of old rags (I like t-shirts or cotton but for this first stage whatever you have)
Lots of newspaper to protect the garage floor
LOTS OF VENTILATION..A MUST
That's all you need to get started.
HERES WHAT YOU DO...
Work in sections.
Brush on the stripper with the brush. Stripper will quit working if it dries, so keep it wet till the finish softens.
Then take a rag and wipe this mess off.
Then another coat of stripper, rag off again, then while the wood is still wet, take the steel wool and rub with the grain till the wood is nice and clean.
Depending on the material you are removing, another coat of stripper is often needed but you will know this as you progress into the job.
Use the toothbrush in crevices.
Thats all there is to it ...move to another section and continue.
No other prep is necessary...and DO NOT SAND
When the stripping is complete, stain with Minwax stain applied with a rag, then 3 or 4 coats of low lustre tung oil also applied with a rag.
Please let me know if anything is not 100% clear.