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The new shop on Elm Street pushes chemical strippers for every job, but I won't use them.
All the local finishers swear by these strong strippers for speed, but I think they damage the grain over time. My gentle scraper method takes longer, but the wood thanks me later.
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jade_murphy6mo ago
Last year I refinished an old oak table that had been slathered in that hardware store gel stripper. The wood underneath felt rough and thirsty, like it had been burned. Switched to a carbide scraper and mineral spirits for the final layers, and the difference was night and day. That table took a stain so evenly, and it just has a deeper, smoother look to it now.
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wendy_green856mo ago
Can't believe @jade_murphy the wood felt burned!
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alexw746mo ago
Wait, the wood felt burned? That's crazy... I've used that gel stuff before and it always leaves a weird film, but @jade_murphy saying it felt thirsty really hits home. Makes you wonder what's actually in those cans. Switching to a scraper sounds like a total pain but I guess it's worth it for that kind of finish.
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