How to remove paint from a wooden surface? In the process of repairing a house or apartment, there is almost always a need for updating and giving a noble appearance to the important components of the interior: window frames, entrance and interior doors.
Of course, it is much easier to install popular plastic counterparts and subsequently enjoy the elegant look that immediately puts on a room.
But it’s much better to live surrounded by natural materials that just need to be updated, restored and modernized by ordinary painting.
Is it necessary to remove old paint?
According to the state of the old paint layer, one should decide: apply fresh paint on top of it or still pre-clean the old decor. The main criteria for making the right decision will be:
- The prescription of the previous painting, capable of starting to peel off under the influence of time. If a new layer is applied to the scaly surface from above, then the painted area will have a bumpy and sloppy appearance.
- Thickness. A single layer of the old coating can not be removed. The coloring matter is superimposed on it much better and lasts longer. In addition, the wood does not face another impact. When multi-layer, the paint layer is characterized by low strength and density and is destroyed with a slight mechanical impact.
- Color. When applying a thin and loose layer of paint, the color of the old surface will appear, or a mixture of the new and old paints will occur. For example, red overlaid on blue will result in a purple hue.
- The texture, which may not coincide with the qualitative characteristics of the previous reservoir. So, how to remove old paint from a wooden surface?
Preparatory stage
In the absence of cracks, swelling and damage on the working surface, pre-painting with sandpaper will suffice . A thick layer of paint or a large number of layers accumulated over many years should be removed. On concrete and metal products characterized by a hard surface, it is much easier to get rid of the old coating than on wood - a soft material that can be easily damaged. How to remove old paint from a wooden surface at home?
Before removing the previous coating, first of all, it is necessary to examine the condition, structure and quality of the product planned for painting and make sure of the possibility of its further operation.
Getting rid of old paint: effective methods
Let's figure out how to remove old paint from a wooden surface at home.
Removing the old layer is a rather time-consuming process that requires a lot of time and effort. Therefore, sometimes an appeal to professional masters is better than independent actions. There are several gentle ways to gently and safely remove the old paint layer, causing minimal damage to the wooden base:
- chemical, involving the use of various reagents;
- thermal using high temperatures;
- mechanical, in which the impact on the work surface is performed using auxiliary tools.
When choosing methods for removing old coatings, personal safety must be observed and protective equipment must be used.
Chemical method
How and how to remove old paint from a wooden surface in the fastest, non-dusty and chemical-free way?
Getting rid of the previously applied layer is done by treating the product with special chemical solutions that impregnate the paint and foaming it from the inside. The application of such effective substances is required to be carried out using a spray gun, a roller with a small pile or brush. Next, wait 20-25 minutes to allow the substance to fully manifest its destructive abilities. As a result, the old layer is removed without much difficulty.
To help, you can take mechanical tools (for example, a spatula).
It is problematic to use chemicals to remove old paint on the ceiling, but manufacturers have found a way out and produce such products in the form of jelly. Even if applied with a brush, they do not flow down.
By financial standards, the chemical method is very costly: a unit of a high-quality product in monetary terms is equal to the price of the paint itself. In addition, the used material needs special disposal. The disadvantage is the pungent smell of drugs, as well as the release of toxic fumes by them. Therefore, in order to avoid burns and poisoning, work should be carried out in a respirator, protective gloves and glasses. Before starting the process, the room must be well ventilated. Is it easier to remove old paint from a wooden surface?
Use hot air
The invention of the building hair dryer led to the appearance of thermal removal of the old paint layer. Are you wondering how to remove old paint from a wooden surface with a hairdryer? The device is able to warm the surface to 600 ° C. Under the influence of high temperatures, the paint foams and is easily removed with a chisel, scraper or spatula.
A building hair dryer is not recommended for use in rooms with plastic windows and open wiring, since at high temperatures the latter can easily ignite. In the absence of a building hair dryer, you can use food foil: attach it to the surface, warm it with an iron (old, which is not a pity). The “ironing” method heats the surface, so you can safely get rid of the old layer of paint.
To remove old paint, it is not recommended to act on the product’s working area with an open flame (gas burners) due to the risk of possible fire. In addition, this can cause drying out and violation of the structure of wood, which negatively affects the strength of the product and its life. Certain types of wood during heat treatment are able to emit flammable resins, which also form a specific film on the product. The latter significantly reduces the adhesion (adhesion of surfaces), and may completely prevent the application of a new layer of a coloring substance to the product.
Effective mechanical method
Let's learn more ways to remove old paint from a wooden surface at home. The mechanical method is quite effective, which is the scraping of old paint with the help of improvised tools: a knife, spatula or grinder. On a small and uneven surface, you can scrape it with sharp devices.
How to remove old paint from the wooden surface of large areas? In this case, it is effective to use a power tool that significantly speeds up the work process: grinders or drills with special circles on which sandpaper is worn or any other material with an abrasive.
An emery-petal disk can easily cope with one layer of old paint, if there are several layers - the use of brush brushes is effective as nozzles.
Features of working with wood
When working with an electric drill or grinder, the paint is removed dry, so the work process occurs in a large cloud of dust. Therefore, be sure to use a respirator, goggles and gloves. Before removing old paint from a tree by a mechanical method, one should pay attention to the type of wood, since improperly selected abrasives can significantly damage its surface. Coarse paper can leave significant scratches on the surface, especially if the work is carried out with certain efforts. Therefore, it is better to change the abrasive material to a fine-grained analog and not to exert much effort in contact with a wooden surface. The scratches resulting from mechanical action should be puttied and primed.
Which way to choose?
How to decide how to remove old paint from a wooden surface? If the cultivated area is large and even, the mechanical method should be applied using various power tools. If it is impossible to connect to the network, you can use chemicals, after which you need to remove the old layer with ordinary scrapers.
We clean with caustic soda
How to remove old paint from a wooden floor surface? If you do not want or cannot use the above methods, you can try using a solution of caustic soda. This method is optimal for any surface, but requires great care.
Components for the workflow:
- old clothes;
- latex gloves;
- brush;
- putty knife;
- cropped plastic bottle;
- mortar;
- caustic soda.
The “softener” of the paint is prepared from a portion of soda ash diluted in three parts of a lime solution. The resulting composition is applied with a brush to the work surface for 10-20 minutes, after which a layer of the old paint layer will begin to bubble. To speed up the process, it is recommended to scrape the surface with softened paint with a stiff brush or knife. Then it is required to carefully remove the paint using a spatula, wipe the surface with a degreasing solution or rinse thoroughly with water.
How to remove old paint from a wooden surface? Tools that have proven themselves in this matter are caustic soda and oatmeal, from which it is easy to prepare an effective paste. It is only required to dilute these components with water, and then apply to the work surface.
After some time, remove with paint and rinse with water. In case of skin contact, this drug must be removed immediately.
Acetone to help
Do you know how to remove old paint from a wooden surface with acetone? This tool, perhaps, like gasoline, the most popular among people who are faced with the problem of removing the old paint layer.
Acetone, which is a solvent, destroys the molecular structure of a substance, and it gradually begins to disappear from the surface. In this way, paint can be removed on a small surface. Processing should be carried out very carefully due to the toxicity and flammability of these fluids. Before starting work, the room should be well ventilated.
Also, some craftsmen use a solution of laundry soap and turpentine to clean wooden surfaces.
New old things
It is only natural that updating surfaces is a labor-intensive and sometimes quite lengthy process. Perhaps it is sometimes even easier to buy a new cabinet, put a new door and lay the flooring. But still, being among your favorite things that have surrounded you for years is much more familiar and comfortable. Maybe you should try to breathe new life into them?