refinishing wood furniture - removing paint?

Question

I am refinishing a dresser and the drawers alone have cost me several sheets of sandpaper (I'm using a DeWalt power sander). The paper doesn't get used up... it gets gummed up by the paint that is coming off... is there some way to get the paint off a bit before sanding? Is there some product that would prepare the paint for sanding better?
Thanks!

Thanks, I'll probably try the paint stripper. I'm using an 60 sandpaper to start off with, so I don't think I can go much coarser... it's getting full of paint though... not sticky, but hard (flattened) balls of paint that I can pick off (if I'm really really patient)

Answer 1

Your going about this backward: first: remove all the paint with a good paint remover, the "snotty" kind. Once the paint is off, then use a 60 grit sandpaper and get all the "high" sides or the "rough" sides. Then go down to a 80 grit and sand some more, it'll be less this time, them to a 100 or 120 grit, this will be fine and it'll be like a babies behind. When you think your ready, wipe it with a damp cloth, and let the wood grain stand up, then re sand with 120 grit and wipe again. It should be perfect now, then your ready to seal. do the same after each coat dries, sand with 120 grit, about four times, until the sealer looks like it's a part of the wood. Then do the same with each coat of paint.

Answer 2

get some liquid paint remover stuff -- it makes the paint bubble off. whats left is some weird funky stuff that is a lot easier to sand. if you insist on using sandpaper get a low grit coarse sandpaper -- like 60 or 80 and sand the paint off with that. then you have to sand in intervals of 60-80 up through the grit spectrum to smooth out the wood -- like 60-120-180-240-300. thats a lot of sanding!

Answer 3

One thing that removes paint is a heat gun, but I would double check with an antique dealer to make sure it wont hurt it. They usually are very familiar with refinishing wood.

Answer 4

Liquid paint remover. Don't use too much or it can eat the glue joints.

You are using sandpaper that is not course enough. Start with a much courser paper and then go gradually smoother. That is why it is becomming filled too early.

Is the paper being filled up or gummed up with sticky stuff. It should not be sticky.

Answer 5

Check your local home improvement stores, there are many types of paint removers to prepare wood for finishing.

Answer 6

i usually use a gel or liquid paint stripper and scrape the paint off initially, then after it is dry from the chemical stripping process i sand it with a power sander and then with finer paper by hand.
don't have it dipped, that will loosen the veneer and any other glues used in the holding of the piece together. good luck you have quite a chore for yourself.

Answer 7

i've other people mentioning a heat gun. it will work,hair dryer will do it also. don't stay in one spot to long and have a putty knife to scrap off loose paint. get off as much paint as possible, if there is varnish under paint don't melt it. if its an old dresser go find some varnish & paint stripper called "bix". thats the only one i use & i never wash the wood w/ water. use alot of steel wool to clean off all of your stripper. good luck itch

Answer 8

i would probably get a paint stripper first apply and wait usually about 10 to 15 minutes and then just take a scraper over it lightly and that should get you to where you need to be for a light sanding.

Answer 9

Some stores sell a product called "Sandblaster" by 3M. It doesn't clog easy when sanding paint.

http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/Sandblaster_US/Home