How to strip stain bad carved wooden chairs? I bought some carved wooden chairs with the intent to strip back...
I bought some carved wooden chairs with the intent to strip back the stain and re-upholster them and use them as our dining chairs.
I am relatively forgiving and planned to sand them back by hand (no situation how long it took) but am having difficulty getting the stain out of the carved areas without wounding the crispness of the carved edges.
These are the chairs:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stiffydagol...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stiffydagol...
Are there any products or techniques I can use to bring back the stain out of the carving without damaging it?
Any insist on would be a help.
Answers: Best thing to do is ..terribly little.
There is ( from the photos ) a worn finish which is easy to remove.
Since you really cannot remove "stain" would use a liqiud paint remover .
Cannot make out what big-hearted of wood they are, but the color is most likely a function of age & a dark tinted finish.
Stripping will blanch them up .
Sanding will do just what you said..dull the details as well as brand name for an uneven finish where out in the open wood has been exposed.
Rags , outmoded toothbrishes , toothpicks , fine steel or bronze wool to "wipe" off the old finish.
As for refinishing ,your phone, but in keeping w/ the style an oil finish or french polish fits & will show rotten the woodgrain.
Best regards
You are going to have to use a stripper and toothbrushes to gain into these crevices..keep in mkind the upholstered parts of this stool will have to be removed first..There is no masking video or anything to cover them that will keep stripper off of them... Sorry to say aloud but I have refinished many a piece of furniture..and this is going to be your just ticket out...You also have to put a layer of stripper on the entire piece, even what you own already sanded down to bare wood, for the stripper will thieve the crevices and other parts it touches down to the finish that is in the small piece, and once refinished if you just used stripper in some parts and not adjectives..then the stain will "take" different on the parts that had no stripper applied..even if it is down to open to the elements wood.on parts..put a thin coat of stripper on them areas as well...Also maintain in mind..if these antiques are worth alot of money, refinishing them will take away from thier utility up to 75%.. Steph they are lovely old chairs, and if they are at all advisable to you, make sure you do the job right first time.
The opening you are going about it is a bit half hearted. I guess you don't want to run too far just yet, but I'm thinking this.
If the filling and wadding in the seat cushions is contained by excellent condition then another tack is needed. However if the seat cushions are surrounded by need of replacing this is a perfect opportunity to strip everything rotten the chairs back to the wood. You can then hold them dipped in caustic hip bath, Professionally. or you could use paint stripper and some fine scrapers to get the muck out of the carved inlays. It is a messy and toxic job. When the stripping is complete, you could nick the chairs to a upholsterer for new trim, or if you're half willing, look up how to do it on the web.
If the chairs are not that valuable to you, cassette plastic over all the fabric carefully, and use the paint stripper to do all the hard work, you might enjoy to reapply it in some spots, and when it is all dry, sand and sanding in between coats will supply you a smooth finish. It is not a job to hurry, and paint stripper is nasty stuff sharp. Be careful, plastic gloves glasses elderly clothes etc don't get it on your skin, wash it sour immediately etc. It is very rewarding if completed beside care.