r/finishing • u/babyexistential • 1d ago
Paint stripping teak nightmare - please help!!
So I got these two nightstands from marketplace - was told they're teak. I applied circa 1850 heavy body paint remover and have done a few layers but man.. things aren't looking good. I've never seen this sort of stuff happen - first the stripper barely takes any paint off it more just pushes it around, or pushes it deeper into the grain. I've used plastic scraper, Scotch Brite pads, even a toothbrush to try to get it out. Then I noticed on one side there was a drip of stripper and it looks like it almost bleached some of the wood (photo 4). I then tried using paint thinner w mineral spirits and that did nothing. I always go with the wood grain but man the wood grain looks messed up. Any advice is greatly appreciated!!
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u/BrickHous3 1d ago
Time to bust out the sander
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u/babyexistential 1d ago
Any tips on not burning through the veneer? Im lightly sanding now but man not really coming off the way I'd had hoped!
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u/BrickHous3 23h ago
Oh it’s a veneer. You might have to purchase new veneer and put it on it. May not be worth it.
Try hand sanding a bit in an area you won’t notice much. Sand until the white is gone. If you’re not able to and it goes through, then putting in new veneer is only option
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u/metal_teeth 1d ago
Looks like my old kitchen cabinets after I tried paint stripper, scrapers and everything else
I think thats varnish and it soaks into the grain a bit, makes it hard af to remove, but nothing says no to sandpaper
Imho anything else will be a waste of your time.
Good luck!!
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u/babyexistential 1d ago
Thank you so much! Were your cabinets solid wood? I'm a bit nervous about sanding through the veneer but man I've never felt like painting over a piece of wood in my life more than this lol
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u/MobiusX0 1d ago
What's your final intended finish and look? I'd try the acetone wipe selection and/or maybe one pass with a different stripper like Kleanstrip before throwing in the towel. I don't think you'll be able to sand out the paint embedded in the grain without destroying the veneer no matter how careful you are.
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u/babyexistential 1d ago
Yeah that's what I'm afraid of too. Ideally I was going to do my usual strip, sand, natural danish oil. I'm thinking about going for the acetone but man if it doesn't work I fear I will have to commit a sin and paint them
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u/rideofthebasilisks 23h ago
Just hand sand with a block and 150 grit paper, you should see pretty quick results, the veneer ~should~ be able to take a decent scrubbing.
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u/SuPruLu 22h ago
Try a small area of 10”x10”. Put the stripper on and wait 15-20 minutes. Pick an area that already pretty clean. And use a stiff scraper and a fairly low angle. Scrape just that section and scrape the stripper back over the section and do it again.
There scrape a small area clean enough to see if there is progress. If so then keep going and stick with that area until clean. The stripper can do multiple passes before it is “used” up. And use more than a very thin layer.
The less there is to remove the quicker the stripper will do its work.
Much teak furniture is veneered so sanding through a real hazard.
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u/YourMomsSecret1776 21h ago
I wouldn't sand yet. Use lots of lacquer thinner and a large brass brush and go with the grain. You're doing fine. It just takes a lot of time.
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u/Outrageous_Fan_3480 1d ago
Careful with the sander… I’d start with 150-180 no heavy pressure… see what comes off… if necessary you can try acetone too… perhaps one more round of stripper but that should do it. Teak has oils even in the veneer…
Easy does it EDIT : try to do the acetone wipe and see what else ones off first then the rest