Stripping & Painting Wood

Stripping wood can vary depending on the type of surface that you are stripping wood from. There are 3 main way of removing paint from a wood.

  1. Sanding – This is ideal for small areas. Unless you want to hire and industrial sander, but that can be unnecessary and expensive. When sanding wood, you are taking the surface of paint off of the wood. This needs to be as even as possible, so take care when sanding curved areas or indentations. If you use a mechanical sander then get some direction from the manufacturer in regards to good practice with the machine you are using. Popular manufacturers often have tutorial videos available on their respective websites.
  2. Electric Hot Air Gun – This removes paint in no time, however you need to ensure that you take precautions when using a piece of equipment as dangerous as a hot air gun. Hot air can often cause scorching on the wood, if used incorrectly. However this isn’t too much of an issue if you are repainting the surface. Remember: A Hot Air Gun can ONLY be used on paint. If used on varnish, it will cause the varnish to turn gooey and glue-like instead of peeling off.
  3. Chemical Stripping – This is widely considered the best method at removing paint. There are several videos that our suppliers have posted on their websites. These videos are a great start, but we suggest researching the topic carefully, to ensure you are on the right track with you chemical stripping process. It is a good idea when preparing a surface to paint to use a combination of mechanical and chemical processes.

Painting wood generally requires a primer. Both paint and spray primer is available, but is generally down to the type of surface you are priming. Priming hides imperfections in the wood and prepares the surface for painting. Orion stocks a large collection of primers over at our shop.

When painting, remember, most paints require 2 coats for a fully even finish on the wood. Leave for at least 4 hours (or as directed) before each coat and leave for the required drying time. Tip: Store your brush/roller in a plastic airtight bag between coats. This saves on cleaning time in the long run.

https://www.familyhandyman.com/woodworking/staining-wood/finishing-wood-trim-with-stain-and-varnish/view-all – Stain & Varnish Article

https://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/skills-and-know-how/painting/how-to-apply-stain-varnish-wax-dye-or-oil-to-wood – Stain & Varnish Article 2