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When it comes to stripping furniture, such as old dining chairs and
tables, I prefer using a dry method I learned years ago.
I take a decently sharp knife and standard screw driver to old chairs
and table legs. I turn the knife on edge and scrape, using only enough
pressure to remove layers of old finish or paint.
I use a screw driver in much the same way, and also use it to get into
the sharp corners and grooves where the knife may not work as well.
A lot of area can be covered this way in good time, and you have no
chemicals to deal with. Just be sure to wear a standard dust mask, to
keep the stuff out of your nose.
On table tops, dressers, and cabinets, I use sand paper. Start with a
coarse grit, such as 80 or even 60 (US) and work down to a medium
grit, such 100 for most of the work.
Use the coarse only enough to scratch up the old finish or paint. Once
you get down close to the wood, a 100 grit works well.
Everything, including the legs stripped clean with a knife, will need
to be sanded with a medium and/or fine grit paper before refinishing.
Be careful not to remove the nice lines and corners of old furniture.
And watch out for veneers, that you don't go right through them.
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