Strip Strips

Strip Strips

Woodworking How To Strip Wood ?

This is the first step in any renovation and now is the time to fit your face mask. This will help protect against fumes from burning solvents and also from fine sanding dust. Visit the Woodworking Plans Website pages for more woodworking articles.

Regardless of whether you use a blow torch or paint stripper, you will need a shavehook or scraper to remove the old finish.

It may be necessary to use several applications of stripper to get into small crevices, and this is often best achieved by rubbing the area with paint stripper on wire wool by hand. A small wire brush (like those used for suede shoes) or a toothbrush can also be useful . It is not advisable to use a blow torch on furniture or areas with deep profiles and crevices for fear of scorching the wood.

Wood that has been discoloured by age, weathering or fingermarks can often be brought back to life by taking off a few light shavings with a finely set smoothing plane. You must always work with the grain of the wood to avoid tearing out .

After you have stripped the timber, it must be prepared for finishing by sanding, either by hand or with an orbital sander. When hand sanding, it's useful to wrap the sandpaper around a cork block. This helps to create a flat surface and protects the user's fingers .

Orbital sanders come in various sizes and are used for finishing larger areas . Some are also designed to reach into very small spaces. These are called detail sanders.

One good way of getting a smooth surface is to rub along the grain with wire wool. Be sure to vacuum the surface of the wood afterwards, or wipe it with a dry rag, to remove any tiny wire particles which may be picked up by a wet paint brush and spoil the finish.

Most stripped surfaces need to be neutralised with water or white spirit. Be sure to do this, and remember to let the surfaces dry thoroughly before attempting to use sandpaper on them.

About the Author

woodchuck is an up and coming expert on crafts and hobbies. Do you want complete Woodworking 4 Home resource ?

You can download fine woodworking plans and designs on Woodworking for Home,or you can learn woodworking by going to Woodworking Plans TV site.

Spring Strip till with planting into strips Waverly IA