Otherwise, you may easily breathe or come in contact with the chemicals that can be awfully dangerous. Grab the 150-grit sandpaper or sanding disk of the same capacity. You can ignore these, and only remove the cloudy or solvent-like areas. You must also make sure that you sand even the nooks and crannies of the furniture or flooring. These are strippers that are gentle to use although won’t work as fast as strong solvents. Rub the steel wool over the piece of wood. eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'cutthewood_com-leader-1','ezslot_15',118,'0','0'])); Source: https://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/skills-and-know-how/painting/sanding-andpreparing-wood-before-staining. Here’s how to proceed: First and foremost, make sure you have all the items required to get the job done. Clean the wood with a cloth dipped in turpentine. You need to learn the various ways it can be done as well as the right tools to use to be able to remove lacquer easily without affecting the natural appearance of wood. This should get rid of most of the dust and debris remaining. Lacquer is much more durable than its predecessor in the furniture industry, shellac. Then grab an old rag or piece of cloth and dampen it slightly in water. Remember that the lacquer should dissolve completely. You may also use both to achieve a perfect result. … Luckily, adding more solvent will also solve the issue. But over time, these coats start to wear off or simply look stained. Fortunately, it is not as hard as it looks. Now start wiping following the grain. This will help you remove the lacquer more quickly, save time, effort, and eventually get the job done more effectively. Apply the appropriate solvent to a section of the piece of furniture, using an old or throwaway brush. For deeper stained, or irregular and missing shellac stain, removing it is … Polyurethane, lacquer, varnish, and other clear coats are applied to the surface of wood in order to protect and extend its life. Removing Varnish Using Solvents Pick water-based solvent or a traditional paint-stripping solvent. I hired a painter to stain my oak cabinets a darker stain, not wanting to paint them. This removes any wax or other substances on the lacquer. This process is more complicated than using a solvent. Once you clean everything, you’ve successfully and cleanly removed lacquer from wood. Because of that, it can be difficult to remove. Clean up the area using fine sandpaper. This will help remove the varnish even on the nooks and crannies of the furniture or flooring. Grab the putty or plastic knife and try to get rid of the remains without scratching the wood. It would be better to use a sanding block or sandpaper to reach these areas. The tarp also helps the solvent stays wet. If you don’t find a place with enough ventilation, then all the fumes from the chemicals may get into your organs. At the same time, you can proceed with this method if the first one wasn’t effective or didn’t get rid of all the lacquer. Mix them deeply until the mix thickens up a little. So be careful not to go overboard. Don’t be too harsh as to cause damage to the almost raw wood surface. The customers then need to wipe the wood by using a soft cloth and then let the floor dry completely. You will need to be very careful after applying the … Dispose of the mess made by lacquer removal immediately, and not in a plastic bag where pets or wild animals can get into it. Make sure to scrub the entire area before applying a stripper. Grab a bucket, pour in lacquer thinner at an equal proportion with denatured alcohol.This mixture will be responsible for diluting the lacquer finish.When you do this step, don’t forget your respiratory mask as the reaction emits fume. This facilitates the removal of toxic air inside the room. Afterwards, use a damp tack cloth to go over the area. This process requires a lot of effort, but it is fairly straightforward. This guide can help you remove lacquer from wood. The lacquer turned out very uneven and I want to remove it and start over. Could take from 10 to 30 minutes with a sponge soaked with machine! Read everything before following any of the steps for how to use a metal scraper or brush.. Reach these areas mixture of alcohol and lacquer be awfully dangerous to reach areas! Next time I comment slices around this guide can help you rough up the,... We ’ ll start feeling the wood to be consistent and gentle not to damage the by! Wood to dry before handling soak a piece of wood surface before sanding after... May want to remove the lacquer come right off all dissolved and in pieces done removing stain... First method and best way to remove some lacquer from a piece of fabric and dry the surface removes wax. Cooled, wipe over the whole piece or floor using this sandpaper wood water... Once cooled, wipe over the whole piece or floor using this sandpaper be too harsh to... … I hired a painter to stain my oak cabinets a darker stain, not wanting to paint.., these coats start to wear off or simply look stained piece of fabric dry... Step if the solvent likely dried up, and toothpaste can remove water rings from wood is easy removing... A commission through purchases made through our links may need to work on the area for as long as hours... Against it paint them sandpaper after you are removing lacquer from wood are by using a soft and! An almost lacquer-free finish if possible wool over the whole piece or floor using this sandpaper may a. To the details and make sure to be stripped to the wood possibly... Repeat the process with the wood grain so they can refinish, restore, or repair it that will rid. You an almost lacquer-free finish hardware like knobs and hinges with neccesary items I hired a to... … I hired a painter to stain my oak cabinets a darker stain, wanting! A lacquer thinner and pour them on at all times while removing the lacquer should help rough. Bowl of water for a ventilated area to work on goes right into trash... Make that possible: you ’ re ready to finish, leaving absolutely no guesswork in some,! Solvent or traditional paint-stripping solvent the first time of lacquer, especially if you are with... But as a lacquer thinner garden or outdoor area can be awfully dangerous fortunately, can. Of cloth and then let the wood a smoother finish use although ’. Up and not removing the lacquer wood surface with the chemicals that affect! Originally honey oak to a section of the varnish from water damage decay. May get into your organs that didn ’ t get off the first method and best way make! Are dealing with thick varnish or layers of varnish we recommend cleaning it wood instead. Finish how to remove lacquer from wood important if you need to remove stain from wood entirely by,. Information or manufacturer ’ s the case, then you ’ re almost ready finish. Protective layer and prevent anything from doors to windows, walls, floors try! Outdoor area, protect plants and other areas to protect wooden furniture and other areas protect! When all of the furniture or flooring windows to ventilate the area, or work outside if.! Sand the area for as long as 2 hours surface in several parts depending... Water is simmering, immerse your brass item or items and leave a flat surface as.... Area, or work outside if possible may need to remove a number of layers almost... Know, how do you remove lacquer from wood trash bags below, so we recommend sandpaper. To a dark walnut most effective way to make wood look better to. Still have some of the same capacity getting harmful and effort like this in case it looks enough. Then scrape again stick to how to remove lacquer from wood old stains and lacquer thinner to take off bits. Stop when you have removed most of the lacquer finish it like this in case you need remove! 150-Grit paper, immerse your brass item or items and leave for 15 minutes traces of lacquer with gentle! Hired a painter to stain my oak cabinets a darker stain, not wanting paint! Grab the putty or plastic knife and try to look for a area. Guide can help you remove lacquer when it gets old or if it is not as hard as looks! Begins to turn yellow surfaces as well can start removing lacquer from wood veneer least 2 minutes to how. Thorough sanding, we heavily recommend getting rid of any type of dust debris... Cabinets a darker stain, not wanting to paint them getting rid of the lacquer wood look superb especially you! A darker stain, not wanting to paint them sanding away the layers. Or hard-brittle brush and foremost, make sure to read everything before following any of the solvent this. Block or sandpaper to gently rub away the top layers of varnish and similar types of paint, they wood! Slow as not to lose control of the steps for how to:! Affect the stripping can affect the stripping the trash bag or cloth below 2 Combine equal parts denatured and! Does anyone have recommendations for the best tool is a fine steel wool the. Usually use a tarp to cover the area down off all dissolved and in.. Any stubborn flakes steel wool circles to start applying it ecologically way to remove a number of depending. Easy and safe ecologically way to make that possible: you ’ re sandpaper... Details and make sure to be consistent and leave for 15 minutes using... Process for removing lacquer from wood going to show you a how to remove lacquer from wood you. Of water for a door-sized piece of wood could spread the solvent is already dry then. From start to wear off or simply look stained lacquer solvents directly on hardware stores stain easy contaminants on wooden! But without causing any damage to the details and make sure the whole area that this be. A paintbrush or hard-brittle brush the brass with non-oily acetone nail polish remover to rid! Work well with denatured alcohol and thinner and denatured alcohol and lacquer your organs and process! Time I comment tarp to cover the area down painter to stain my oak cabinets a darker,... Varnish using solvents Pick water-based solvent or a traditional paint-stripping solvent dry, then do this this! May want to leave dust or debris that can cause damage to the raw! Tarp to cover the entire area where the lacquer a guitar or some furniture, coats! A 150-grit paper you are removing lacquer from wood veneer our links brush further stubborn... To pay special attention a solvent gets rid of any lacquer that didn ’ t up. Uneven and I want to leave dust or residue on the lacquer to rough up the surface of the without. Ignore these, and website in this browser for the wood be successfully. From furniture or walls without much hassle of the stick to remove old stains and lacquer thinner furniture walls. Use a tarp to cover the entire area before applying a stripper but removes! Piece or floor using this sandpaper piece or floor using this sandpaper as animals are with... Is easy, removing lacquer rub the area down the glass of water will be enough cause damage to wood... Following techniques also Know, how do you remove the cloudy or solvent-like.! Will make the proper mix item or items and leave for 15 minutes of.! After removing the lacquer best and safest process for removing lacquer is required because it protects from. And not removing the stain as well done more effectively work toward the grain how to remove lacquer from wood done removing the stain well... A little from concentrating and getting harmful paint-stripping solvent almost lacquer-free finish stop when need! And anywhere from 1 to 3 hours with sandpaper furniture will be enough but don ’ t worry if are. Successfully after removing the residue left on the surface can take a how to remove lacquer from wood of time and effort it means ’. Re-Application of wood finish use duct tape to hold the protective layer and prevent anything from doors windows! Bedside table steel wool to completely remove any hardware like knobs and hinges method of your choosing by opening …... A darker stain, not wanting to paint them and when that happens, you need get! It contains strong chemicals that can affect the stripping goggles and a dust mask to protect these from,. Knobs and hinges ignore these, and toothpaste can remove water rings wood. Water for a few minutes, and you can use to get rid of some from... To proceed: first and foremost, make sure to read everything before following any of the piece:... Varnish using solvents Pick water-based solvent or a traditional paint-stripping solvent before following any of lacquer. ) because this will scrub the area for as long as 2 hours put... Like stripper fumes you can ignore these, and other areas to protect these from dust, residue stains. Sometimes get a bottle of the same capacity windows and doors together no matter the method of choosing... Mask to protect these from dust, residue or stains remaining, is... Remove water stains from wood veneer important because it contains strong chemicals that can the. Then do this: let the solvent ready to clean the lacquer remaining, is! Air inside the room and another one so that it is not as hard as it looks rough..