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How-To Guide
Our step-by-step guide to removing paint, varnish, polyurethane, epoxy, and lacquer from wood and metal furniture. No heat guns, no methylene chloride, no NMP.
What You'll Need
Wear nitrile or butyl rubber gloves (not latex) and safety glasses. Use a respirator in confined or poorly vented areas. Do not use if pregnant. Keep pets and children out of the workspace, apply between 40F and 90F, and dispose of spent waste per local regulations.
Step-by-Step
Test a hidden spot first to confirm suitability and dwell time for your finish. Remove any loose, flaking coating with a scraper or wire brush, take off hardware, and set up in a ventilated space between 40F and 90F. Shake or lightly mix the container so the product is uniform.
⏱ 30 minutesLay it on about 1/8 inch thick. Use a chip brush or a disposable 3/8 inch nap roller and apply a generous, even layer across the surface. The semi-gelled formula holds on vertical surfaces like legs, doors, and trim with minimal runoff.
⏱ 10-15 minutesThick coats work better than thin ones. The reaction needs product on the surface for the full dwell, and a thin wash dries out before the coating lets go.
Give it real time. One or two coats of paint or varnish need 50 to 60 minutes minimum. Multi-layer buildups need 3 to 4 hours. Epoxy and polyurethane need 5 to 8 hours. For thick or heavy coatings, leave it overnight. If the product starts drying during a long dwell, apply a light second coat to reactivate it. Do not start over.
⏱ 50 min to overnightFor thick polyurethane, epoxy, or 5+ layers, cover the surface with plastic sheeting to hold moisture in and leave it overnight or up to 24 hours. Long dwells will not hurt the piece.
Wait for the coating to soften, then pull it off with a flat scraper. If you are removing multiple coats, scrape and reapply directly. There is no need to clean between applications, and the residue will not interfere with the next pass.
⏱ 20-40 minutesDo not scrape too early. If the coating is still fighting you, the answer is more dwell time, not more muscle.
Cleanup is water plus Finishing Cleaner. Wipe the residual film off with Finishing Cleaner on a damp cloth, then follow with a clean water rag. Skipping this step leaves residue that stops stain, paint, or sealer from bonding.
⏱ 10-15 minutesFinishing Cleaner is also an excellent degreaser for your brushes, rollers, and scrapers after the job.
Let the wood dry completely before stain, paint, or sealer. Run your hand over the surface. Reapply stripper to any stubborn spots, give them a fresh dwell, and scrape again. Once the surface is uniformly clean, the piece is ready to refinish.
⏱ Until fully dryGood to Know
Test a hidden area first. Especially on antiques and veneer, a small test confirms the finish and dwell time before you commit to the whole piece.
Give it the full dwell. Longer dwells work better. Thick finishes need 5 to 8 hours or overnight, and covering with plastic keeps the reaction going.
Re-wet a drying coat. If the product dries on the surface during a long dwell, a light second coat reactivates it. You never have to start over.
Don't scrape too early. If the coating has not softened through, more dwell time finishes the job in one pass instead of three.
Don't use latex gloves. Wear nitrile or butyl rubber gloves and safety glasses. Latex is not chemical-resistant enough for this product.
Don't use it on plastic, PVC, or rubber, or outside the 40F to 90F application range. For large floor square footage, use Floor Stripper instead.
Dwell time, almost every time. Thicker finishes need 5 to 8 hours or overnight. Cover the surface with plastic sheeting outdoors or in dry rooms so the product does not dry out, and re-wet a drying coat with a light second coat.
Yes. Furniture Stripper works on metal furniture and hardware as well as wood, without damaging the substrate underneath.
Yes. Long dwells do not hurt the piece. Cover it to keep moisture in for thicker finishes, and scrape when the coating has fully softened.
In a cool, dry area between 40F and 90F, away from heat and freezing. Shelf life is 1 year properly stored. It may separate, so shake before reuse.
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