tara_jones94•18d agoProlific Poster

My kid asked why I always strip before I stain

I was working on a mid-century dresser last weekend, my 8-year-old watching me sand off a perfectly fine old finish. She just goes, 'Daddy, why do you make it naked if you're just gonna put clothes back on?' I laughed, but it stuck with me. I've always just done it that way, it's what my mentor taught me 15 years ago. But that night I looked at a maple chair I'm doing, and the old shellac was actually in great shape, just dull. Instead of my usual Citristrip bath, I just gave it a light scuff and a coat of amber shellac. It looks amazing, saved me like 4 hours, and kept that nice patina. Made me realize I go straight to the nuclear option out of habit sometimes. How do you guys decide when to fully strip versus just cleaning up and refinishing over the top?

3 comments

3 Comments

morgan.logan18d agoMost Upvoted

Honestly, I've started checking if the piece is even solid wood first. So many "wood" pieces are just veneer, and going nuclear on those can ruin them for good. A light scuff and new topcoat is the only safe move there.

thea_wood8618d ago

Man, that kid question hits hard. I mean, I've totally been there, just mindlessly stripping everything because that's how I learned. It took a ruined veneer table for me to slow down and actually look at what I'm working on first. Now I always test a small spot in the back to see if a clean and recoat will work.

hollyc926d ago

Yeah, @thea_wood86's test spot idea is key, it saves so many good finishes from getting stripped for no reason.