what's the quickest way to strip paint off a chair?

Question

I'm trying to re-finish 5 chairs that have green paint on them. I really don't want it to take forever and it seems like the way it's going that it might. I got scrapers, but they're plastic and didn't take long to wear away. I've already had the stripping gel on for about 16 hours...help???

the stuff worked well on the protective coating on the seat, but the green paint on the back is hard to scrape off and almost impossible to remove from the nooks and crannies of the chair back.

Answer 1

Find a product called Naval Jelly. This stuff will eat through just about anything....so just be SURE to spot test on an inconspicuous area of a chair (the underside??) and WEAR GLOVES. I'm not kidding...this stuff works great. I used it on my son's bedroom furniture when he was a baby and it worked CRAZY fast. Of course it's labeled a "rust remover" but it works on paint too...I promise!

Good luck.

Answer 2

When you scrap is the paint coming off? My first thought would be is the stripping gel being used made for the product being stripped off? 16 hours is a long time for nothing to happen considering most strippers only need to sit for 15 to 30 minutes before they start working. And I don't think it's a good idea to leave it on that long. It may dry out, so that could be the problem.

If it is the right kind of stripper, it may not be powerful enough, you may need to find something tougher. The "safe" strippers don't work as quickly or take as much off at once, as harsher chemical strippers. Also, Metal scrappers won't wear out the way plastic ones will, but, be careful, they can gouge a surface.

Unfortunately, stripping is not quick work, regardless of the stripper being used or if you are stripping paint or stain. And stripping something like a chair takes longer.

Edit: Okay, depending on the what the chair is made out of, sand paper or steel wool may work best on the detail areas. Parks and Zinsser both make "Detail Strippers" stripping products made specifically for nooks and crannies. Again, depending on what the chair is made out of, if you can't get all the paint off, you can spot prime those areas before putting a new finish on. (Unless of course you wish to stain it.) The suggestion of taking to some place that does strip baths is good also!

Answer 3

Sometimes good things come, to those who wait. Allow the stripper to sit for 24hrs. Wrap it up in old rags to keep the stripper from evaporating, and keep the rags wet with stripper.
You are doing this in a well ventilated area I hope.

Answer 4

take the chairs to a place that specializes, and has a DIPPING/Strip Bath process