What's the safest way to strip wood?

Question

I know that wood gel strippers are fairly toxic. I was told you can use a heat gun to strip wood, but will end up using the gel stuff in the end anyway to get everything off.

What about just sanding something? Does that work? What about the nooks and crannies?

I want to take old furniture, and strip the varnish, and repaint/varnish them.

Thanks in advance for any replies. Much appreciated.

Answer 1

I use one of those fiber wheels that you put on a drill and it cleans of the paints or varnish very quickly and not toxic mess to clean up just dust. You may want to use a dust mask while using it.

Answer 2

With all due respect Safest is to take any piece to a place that dip/strips furniture.

Obviously there are hundreds of Hyped products; and certainly wearing a mask when sanding; or stripping with toxics in a well ventilated area helps.

Steven Wolf

Answer 3

sanding is the best you can scrape out the nooks and crannies or use steel wool it will form to most and get it out. I used the other stuff and the paint cone off but it soaked into my wood and the new stuff i put on never dried

Answer 4

nothing really works 100%.
use both i find the heat gun is best.
but you will still end up with a residue of whatever primer was initaly used on the wood(if no primer)then you are lucky.
if a primer was used,the only way then is sand paper plus sweat(sorry) and even then you may not get down to the wood,but you will still get the effect you are looking for.

Answer 5

I would use a non-toxic soy based paint stripper. Check on line for brands and retail outlets. The solvent type are very toxic and hazardous to use.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=soy+paint+stripper

Answer 6

Been there,done that. Keep putting the gel on,let it set, scrape it off, do it again and again.