How to speed up a long sanding job?

Question

I bought an old dresser that's beautiful but needs to be sanded. I bought a good sander and started at it tonight, but omg!!! Its going to take me 100 years of sanding to get this done. There must be a better way. I was thinking maybe some kind of scraper, you know those things that look like a cheese slicer that could take off a think layer to get me started. I don't want to use chemicals...can anyone please give some time saving advice?

Please don't write me to tell me it can't be done, there must be a way, even if it's unconventional. I don't mind doing a lot of sanding, I just want to remove the top layer of varnish some other way....please, there must be some tricks?

Answer 1

If you don't want to handle chemical stripping, why not take it to a business that strips it for you? If you don't, you are probably doomed to the 100 years of sanding. I don't think I would go the sand plasting route, you are almost sure to damage the piece of furniture.

Good luck with your project.

Answer 2

To remove varnish, you are going to have to sand it off, or use a chemical to remove it. There are some good, safe, varnish removers available.

With the length of time you are spending on sanding tho, I would hazard a guess that your sandpaper is too fine of a grit.

Try using a 60 grit sandpaper to remove the varnish, then follow up with a 100 to 120, to help smooth it out again. One last sanding with about a 180 to 220 grit then should take care of most needs. Remember to always sand with the wood grain, not against it. ;)

Have Fun!

Answer 3

Get someone else to do it!

Answer 4

you cant