Removing Paint From Wood Furniture | What Is The Best Technique?

You normally see me painting furniture, but today I'm removing paint from an old buffet I found at Goodwill thrifting. I'm going to compare a Soy Gel chemical stripper, an orbital sander, and a heat gun side by side so you can make the best choice for your next paint removing project. This video is not sponsored and all thoughts and opinions are mine. Please read and follow manufacturer safety recommendations when working with equipment, solvents and solutions.
Products used:
Blue Bear Soy Gel Paint Stripper (christina10 for 10% off) - www.realmilkpa...
DEWALT Random Orbit Sander - amzlink.to/az0...
Wagner Furno 300 - amzlink.to/az0...
Festool Rotex 90 - amzlink.to/az0...
Festool Dust Extractor- amzlink.to/az0...
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Disclosure: These links contain affiliate links. I will receive a commission for items purchased through these links at no extra cost to you. I appreciate your support. Please read all labels and follow all manufacturer safety recommendations when working with paints, stains, and other equipment and wear and use appropriate personal protection equipment. Viewers should attempt these projects at their own risk.

[@dawngaudreau4786]

Thanks for this side by side testing. It really goes to show you that everything takes time no matter what product you use. But I do love the soy based stripper💕

[@Freight_Train]

Wow. This is one of the few videos with multiple options and listing the pros and cons of each. Thanks for that. Also, really neat to see your finished product.

[@calliepiccoli6760]

Thank you for testing these methods side by side and doing a time comparison. In my (limited) experience, I think that if you use a good stripper the hands-on time, physical effort and potential to damage your furniture is least with a chemical stripper. At least with a stripper you can paint it on, wrap it up and walk away to work on another project while the stripper does its thing. I find I just chew through sanding pads and trash my arms and hands removing paint and varnish with the sander, plus obviously you can't get all the surfaces. My daughter and I look forward to watching more of you videos.

[@Flodar_Eltih]

Thanks Christina. Yesterday i started removing paint in my ikea wood table with my sander. It takes great physical effort and time but im happy with the result. I think best duo would be chemical removing and fining with sander.

[@patticanning5053]

I really like the way you laid thing out and showed each one , I like the soy based remover the best that would be my preference. But, like you said it’s up to the individual. Thank you Christina for being so informative. I’ve loved all your videos you speak clearly you’re not in a rush very helpful.

[@virginiachampion9944]

Thank you for comparing and testing side by side and continuing on afterwards with the details too. Super helpful! 👌

[@lesliejohnson7247]

Christina, can you add scraping as an option. I’ve read that it’s faster than sanding. Would have loved to see you try it!

[@lisastandiford9303]

I agree with you, it's more of a personal preference when stripping. It depends on where I want to strip paint. If its pretty outside, I'll use stripper or sand outside just to get me outside. I haven't used a heat gun but I sure will the next time! Thanks for sharing!

[@b.a.blessingstitcher]

I like the results of the sander best but like you, hate all the dust. Thanks for showing all these different options!

[@Doctaphil64]

People, be sure of the paint type you're working with when using a heat gun! Lead paint fumes are deadly.

[@salvagedbykscott]

Thank you for testing these all side by side. I think it’s just a terrible job no matter how you go about it 😔

[@trudyeby464]

Yep! Which is why I avoid pieces where I have to fix other people's crappy paint jobs.

[@Journeyoflove13]

Yep. A while ago I saw a woman on youtube using ducktape on a door and wow. This was a really quick way to get rit of old paint. I just got a new rental home and the bad condition of the paint is taking me 2 months now to get rit of. I am so tired of it. I used every tool you can tink and looking to the video I defenotely have not the best sanding machine. But now I'm goying to try ducktape. Hope it works. Good look with your projects!

[@Journeyoflove13]

​@@trudyeby464exactly 😂 (😭)

[@user-cp5vr2bh4z]

The latex was only 3 or 4 days old and I used the heat gun to clean it off. It was a small drawer front that I messed. up. I did get to see the smoke when it got down to the varnish and stain and experience the smell, but worked great thank you, Tim

[@funfactsexplorer403]

For heat gun I'll move the heat gun left and right than point it on a spot for long cuz there was once the wood was burnt on one spot...n my husband said if it's on a wall I might burn wire hidden in the wall if the heat gun is pointed at the same spot for too long

[@newdreamsin2012]

Great demonstration Christina! I can’t pick a favorite as they all work. Depending on your furniture finish and how many layers of paint you need to strip, I can see an advantage to using all 3.

[@Jamie-Nicole]

I’ve been restoring old wood windows that are covered in decades of cracked/cakey paint (including lead based).. out of citristrip, sanding, and heat i have to say heat gun is the easiest and cleanest way to go hands down. For me it is the fastest because there’s not a lot of set up/clean up you just need a blade, the heat gun and a mask/eye protection.

[@ChristinaMuscari]

Great feedback!

[@wanderingsoul1189]

The best video of paint stripping with comparative analysis.

[@BeautyFromNeglect]

Fellow flipper here 👋🏾 thank you so much for sharing, I love learning from all of you expert flippers 😉

[@summerbreeze1955]

Thanks Christina, a clear explicit vid. and such a lovely clear voice, heard every word. I have used two lots of differing strippers on an old Edwardian door, not satisfactory as had to complete with caustic soda last and painstaking scraping with a flat metal tool manually, took ages. still needs sanding with my Bosch. I think the heat gun looks more efficient. The joiner came yesterday to install, so have my work cut out as it's now insitu! Luv n light from UK x

[@ChicAntiquebyHolly]

This was so helpful to see! Thank you for taking the time to show us this comparison!

[@larissaorjuela9743]

Great video! Thank you for the comparison. One note I have which may influence sanding is wether or not the paint is latex. I’ve had the worst time sanding latex this past week. The friction heats up the paint and then it just gums up my sanding pads. The heat gun would have helped me here I think. Definitely gonna buy one as I hear they are good to loosen glued down pieces too!

[@kristinal-ghoul2680]

Yes, I originally bought my heat gun to remove old vinyl tiles from my son's kitchen floor. Worked great too! Now I'm using it for paint removal too!

[@kelsiecashin5352]

I just found your channel and now I'm addicted! Binge watching all night!

[@CristinaNogueiraAlves]

My favorite is the heat gun. First you heat all the superfície and then you stripped with a scraper once is cooled. Does a good job

[@aok2727]

I stripped an entire small dresser today with the heat gun as the paint was latex and it was super cold out and was fearful the stripper would have trouble with the cold. IT WAS A LOT of work but I found i could heat the entire piece and when it cooled, the paint came off in dry flakes. Very very easy compared to having the gun ahead of the heat and removing gooey paint. I would not have even considered using a heat gun if you hadn’t shown me how effective it would be. TY

[@kristinal-ghoul2680]

Thank you for this! I didn't know that a heat gun can be used to remove paint. I'm doing a set of chairs and the first one I sanded down--took forever! Then I got some chemical stripper and that worked much better, but it was so messy! After watching your video yesterday, I used my heat gun on the third chair and it was so much better than the other techniques. Yes, there's a bit of mess but nowhere near as bad as the chemical stripper.

[@ChristinaMuscari]

They are all hard and time consuming. But I like having the option.

[@toni5810]

I'm a newbie when it comes to flipping furniture. I would use the soy-based stripper.

[@texasangel797]

I think other than the dust I like the sanding alternative 😌

[@raymorley8241]

I went with te Stripper and then followed up with the Sander and it worked very well this way.

[@karenberg7696]

Always a pain stripping furniture. I liked the soy product as as it was fairly quick. Then follow up with the sander like you did.

[@savedbygracesavedbygrace8308]

Thank you for making this video. Would love to see a video comparing surf prep sander vs the rotex sander.

[@patbedford1571]

So I see everyone on YT that refinishes furniture strip paint off the top. But what about the sides and the front? I realize you can take the drawers out but then there are still the drawer frames. Does chemical stripper run? Should I turn the furniture piece each time to have my work area on the top? Or can I just apply it standing upright?

[@ondinadixon1875]

Hi Christina. I’ll stick to sanding myself . Like you I don’t like the sticky residue from the stripper 😩 Although I’ve never seen that one before ! Now the heat gun I only use for drying my paint sometimes 🤣 Thanx for sharing the video 👍

[@ronagroves7704]

Very helpful and I vote for the heat gun!!!

[@MrCocoandchanel]

Thank you, Christina, for the valuable information! You are a great teacher. 🍎

[@lizxu322]

I used a metal scraper....took me 1 week to do a door due to sore hand. All i had at the time...

[@YeicaLizezita14]

Hi Christina! I have a painted dresser that has tons of detail in the front, and I want it to be raw wood again 😞 should I do the soy gel? Thank you so much for this🙏🏻

[@deborahschipper1520]

Great reviews! I too am dusappounted in Citrus Strip. Thanks for the info!

[@DiscosVideos]

This was great. The Citrastrip worked way better then what we were using. Still only 25% into my project but it’s going faster now

[@kcmabel4440]

You can also put a plastic bar on top so it doesn’t dry out, I’ve done that with mineral solutions . great video I’ve been looking to buy that soy solution but I think I’ll just stick to paint thinner.

[@cameronparham5067]

Excellent video

[@mrs.morgan]

Great video, thank you! Since I can’t go outside I’ll be ordering the Blue Bear!

[@delandisdillard3527]

How do you do the drawers and legs?

[@aprilbelt7271]

Great comparison tutorial!

[@FurnitureFlippingForProfit]

I have never heard of this soy get chemical stripper. Great info once again!

[@kimruschak2885]

thank you for sharing and explaining these options!

[@arthurcombs5032]

Thanks. Came to YT looking for which grit to use and found your vid. I already have the DeWalt orbital sander so I just to find the soy stripper.

[@xDDLFxD]

Great video! We’ve done the second method to remove paint from wood flooring but our biggest thing is dust, we’ve found it best to sand down floors but for a house that is over 100 yrs old is there a better method? The amount of dust can be absurd

[@Joe_Yacketori]

Such a great video, the comparison was super useful and clear. A+

[@trudyeby464]

Helpful info, thanks! I am curious about the scrapers I have seen lately on youtube. I am reluctant because I imagine you could REALLY gouge your wood with one. Perhaps you could give one a try for us?

[@Minding1111]

I wish I would of looked into this for my kitchen cabinets. I had some really nice big cabinets with a lot of space. I wanted to sand them down but they had piles of paint that it was so hard to come off . We just gave up and some of them had mold inside. So we took them down and bought new ones but not he same

[@averagedz3631]

Good comparison video 💡

[@Delilahspam]

Thank you for this! I’d love more videos on specific tools

[@ChristinaMuscari]

More to come!

[@martinspilovsky9071]

wow, looks so great thank you for sharing

[@osks]

Very nicely done!

[@KaidenEdits507]

Thank you for this great information

[@ChristinaMuscari]

Glad it was helpful!

[@salimahar1942]

Love from Singapore!!

[@samgunz1]

Great video.. does this work on stain also?

[@d9_1056]

Awesome video. I have a bookshelf my father in law made that doesn't match our home, and my wife doesn't want to get rid of it. I have some work ahead of me.

[@kathysanchez5945]

Great video...very helpful information...Thanks for sharing!!!

[@IphysKitchen]

Thank you so much for this video, it was helpful to me

[@jimmykjazz]

Great video ! Thanks !

[@christiemills2804]

Looking forward to this. I used your heat gun method this week to remove paint from a table. My hand is so sore from pushing the paint scraper, lol! It made me feel better that you said it took you a week to get it off that dresser. 😂

[@ChristinaMuscari]

It takes forever!

[@christiemills2804]

@@ChristinaMuscari I was using the heat gun on mineral paint (Debi’s DIY paint sealed with wax) and it was hard to get off, but there is something satisfying when u get a long strip going lol. I’m just a hobby painter so I’m gonna try the gel next week! Thank u for the great video!

[@kaitlinmcdonald8410]

Sander definitely

[@daxd3160]

Your explainations are soo good ❤

[@ChristinaMuscari]

Thank you so much 😀

[@georgioacronimakis8434]

I think the best is the stripper gel

[@mckennacreative6133]

Thank you!

[@babyfat6677]

Just tried chemical stripper for the first time, I used Klean, oh my god, what a mess, I hate the gooey stuff. I first used plastic scraper as I heard the metal ones may scratch the wood, it was a big mistake. metal scraper worked much better to remove the gooey stuff for me. I also tried heat gun a while back, it was less messy as you mentioned, but I burnt the paint/ topcoat from time to time and it produced so much smoke and smell😅 I sometimes use a scraper before sanding, it works well on large flat area and way less dust but still very time consuming. I guess there’s just no way around it...

[@ChristinaMuscari]

Yep, it just is hard and messy all around. Do you have a link to the scraper you used. I haven't tried that method yet.

[@babyfat6677]

Can you see my comment? I’ve tried so many times, it always disappeared when I checked it later...

[@babyfat6677]

I’m using the banco scraper from Amazon. Maybe bc before I posted the link, so it got deleted.

[@Spain42]

Omg thank you for this. I just picked up a piece..it was such a bear removing the paint. Just bought the soy removal. Hopefully my next project won’t take me all day. 🤣

[@eckos2310]

Could you share the namebrand and what is that stain called that you used on that dresser? And where I can get it?

[@margaretwilliams6134]

Very informative!! Thank you

[@kimhunter2532]

Thank you so much. Kwik Klean stinks but it works better than citristrip.

[@pollypaul7170]

Great info, love the details you provide. I may have to join the furniture redo business;)

[@uraniamelendez1351]

Tha thank you for this video ! It was very helpful!

[@phyllishume5854]

Thank you.

[@OkieRoamer]

I wouldn't recommend using a heat gun. The heat can release toxic chemicals from the paint and / or wood. It's always a good idea to test for lead paint if it's really old. Plus, there's a chance you could scorch the wood. If you do use it, do it outside.

[@dliv1687]

Great video!

[@vickipaisley4938]

Great info!! Thank you !!

[@johnmac666]

What stain did you use?

[@paulalderson6920]

How do you strip long round ornate spindly pieces?

[@danettecadzow9837]

I found it depends on the piece and the finish. I've used all three on an old solid Maple kitchen cabinet an none of them did a spectacular job. Went from planning on staining to painting it.

[@kellyevans8321]

Very informative!

[@mativia16]

Thank you for this video. I was really looking for information about stripping paint. What is the difference between random orbital and not random, I mean for you.. which one is best. Thanks

[@rummy3397]

I was planning to strip an exterior door with its frame. Please let me know what is the best method to scrape around the whether stripping in the frame without damaging it. Thanks :)

[@vladvasile4252]

awesome video cheers What about sandblasting?? Anybody have any thoughts on that?

[@janetevans2711]

Great video x

[@PDHatsuneMiku]

This was so helpful! I’m assuming this won’t work for stain? I’ve been dying to revamp my bed frame but the person who stained it applied it so thickly that it’s almost like it’s painted so I don’t know how to go about it 😔

[@trudyeby464]

I would try the stripper. If the stain is thick it might be a combination stain with sealer. Sanding could work, too, but it might gum up your sandpaper.

[@PDHatsuneMiku]

@@trudyeby464 hmmm I’ll give that a shot, thanks!

[@empressche333]

I like using the chemical strippers, but the harsh ones..lol. I always do it outside, and slather it on thickly. Let sit for 5 minutes, and all paint will come off. I find the ‘eco’ strippers just take way too long.

[@ChristinaMuscari]

The harsh ones scare me. 😬

[@empressche333]

@@ChristinaMuscari yeah, I get that. But I only work outside, and since I restore old pieces..it’s necessary. I just got good with letting it sit so it would take most of the paint off in one go.

[@Katherine-ep3ms]

Best stripper to use? How to get varnish off small details?

[@ChristinaMuscari]

I really liked this one. I get little pack of steel brushes (they look like toothbrushes) from the hardware store to get into the details.

[@dawngaudreau4786]

Oh do you prefer this sander or the SurfPrep better?

[@ChristinaMuscari]

I prefer this one for stripping, but definitely use my Surf Prep more.

[@jessicamartin8052]

Does this paint stripper work well for just stain and polyerathane?

[@sandyvillanueva4679]

Thank you for this! I used Citrustrip for the first time yesterday on a wooden shelf to see how I would do and what an awful mess. It wasn't painted, I just wanted to take off the finish to re-stain it. But I must've used it wrong because it's all sticky and gritty. Parts of of turned black? I tried cleaning it off with mineral spirits, but didn't help. I left it to dry overnight to see how I can salvage it now. With my arthritis, sanding has become difficult so I thought the stripper might work better. I'm glad I tried it on a small shelf first. Should I reapply the stripper or go straight to sanding? What do you suggest? Thanks again. ;o)

[@christinec919]

Hi Christina, love your videos! Just finished my first piece and it turned out great thanks to your tips. I'm ready for my next project (misc. chairs) and was wondering if you can recommend a good brand that has a nice Cranberry Red. Thanks!

[@hlynn2008]

Have you ever had the paint turn gooey when using the heat gun? I stripped an old dresser with it and it didn't have nice dry flakes for some reason. Maybe the paint was oil based?

[@ChristinaMuscari]

No, mine have always dried up. I wonder the reason.

[@hlynn2008]

@@ChristinaMuscari Hmm, ok -- maybe there was varnish or something under the paint and that's what was gooing up. I did see a little smoking -- the dresser was very old and my G'mas had repainted at some point. Oh well! It won't deter me from using the heat gun in the future - overall I enjoyed the technique!

[@carlmeyer5325]

What do you think about using a deglosser before sanding? It seems to make the sanding go easier. I appreciate your 3 cents worth (inflation).

[@ChristinaMuscari]

🤣 A deglosser might help. I've never used one.

[@joycewerner1041]

I have good luck with a heat gun if there are several layers of paint. Otherwise I use stripper. I don’t have good luck with sanding unless the finish is practically falling off the piece.

[@Judy-oi6ux]

I would have picked first way seemed more easier for wood trim on walls ..

[@minichibichi]

Can you try the oven cleaner method?

[@willtheman840]

Also carbide blade scraper.

[@Stacys128]

I am not a fan of stripping paint either. I will have to try the gel next go around. I do have a question. Do you have a video on how to revive an already stained table top that is in really good shape? Just needs a good cleaning and moisture

[@lyzeesl1fehacks]

Sanding all the way mate for shizz!!

[@Cowgirl77Hikes]

Great project-would you use plastic wrap with the sou stripper!

[@Cowgirl77Hikes]

😂 nm.