Expert: Eileen Cronk - 12/4/2007

Question
Hi Eileen,  We want to retain our bathroom cabinets.  They're walnut and have a reddish/brown finish, I want to take them the very darkest brown (with no red) that I can.  We stripped the cabinet with a stripper that was recommended to us at "Lowe's".  While it took the "finish" off, it didn't penetrate the wood to get the color.  We tried our new stain on a piece and it's just not coming out dark enough (after 4 coats).  Now we're stumped and I'd like to know what you'd suggest.  I'm wondering if perhaps we used the wrong stripper because the can really only indicated that it was for paint.  Is there actually anything out there that will get down into the wood and get stain out????  Please advise ASAP as this is the last thing we need to get done of a major bathroom reno.  Thanks.  Lisa Mann

Answer
Hi Lisa
Nice to hear from you.
In most cases there is color left in the wood after stripping so do not fault the stripper if it removed all the finish and left some color.
In the case of antique furniture stripping, this is to be desired (unless its a horrible color you want to remove).
In cases where we want this color removed, we use wood bleach.
This is available in the paint section of most hardware stores.
It comes in 2 small bottles that you mix together just before use.
Its very important that directions be followed carefully.
Good Luck and great question.
Regards
Eileen