Stripping Wood Vs Sanding Wood

Few techniques work better than scraping off old, worn paint and/or varnish to restore the original beauty of wood furniture or ancient doors. This project can be completed in two ways: stripping and sanding. Sanding and stripping are primarily different in that the former removes all old finishes completely, while the latter usually prepares the surface for a fresh coat but can also be used to remove paint entirely.

Which is therefore superior? Since it's a good question, this blog post will address the response. We'll examine both approaches and discuss when you might choose to use one over the other to restore your workpiece to showroom quality.

STRIPPING WOOD

You'll need to remove every last bit of old paint if you want to expose the wood grain underneath and aren't planning on repainting the item. In this instance, a paint stripper would be preferable to sanding.

THE BENEFITS OF STRIPPING

• IT TAKES LESS TIME AND EFFORT TO STRIP: A surface can be painted with a paint stripper quickly and simply. After using the stripper, all you need to do is wait for the mixture to break the paint's binding with the surface before scraping the paint off. Taking several passes to sand a surface can frequently be more labor and time-intensive. 
• RAW WOOD IS THE END RESULT: Stripper makes it possible to access the surface's bare wood without destroying the wood's grain. Sanding can still do this, but it becomes more difficult to get to the grain and more likely to cause harm to the wood. 
• FUNCTIONS WELL IN SMALL AREAS: Hand sanding enables more accurate sanding in smaller areas; but, hand sanding isn't as effective on other components because of their extremely tight corners. Strippers have little trouble maneuvering around awkward situations. 
• REDUCED DUST PRODUCTION: Although strippers can still leave a mess, they are usually easier to manage and tidy up. Larger workpieces might generate a lot of dust during the sanding process. 

THE DRAWBACKS OF STRIPPING

• STRIPPERS FREQUENTLY INCLUDE ABRASIVE CHEMICALS: Although non-toxic paint strippers are available, they frequently perform worse than their hazardous equivalents. The majority of highly efficient paint removers contain powerful fuming caustic chemicals. Use utmost caution when working with paint strippers. 
• STICKY RESIDUE: Although strippers don't emit dust, they may leave behind a sticky residue that is difficult to remove. 
• SANDING COULD STILL BE NECESSARY: Although paint strippers are effective, there are situations in which you might need to spend a lot of time sanding to completely clean the wood surface. 
• COSTLIER THAN SANDING: Sandpaper is reusable, and with tools like sanding rubber sticks, you can prolong the life of your abrasives. Once you use up your stripper, you'll need to acquire more. Strippers can only be used once. Because of this, stripping may be more costly than sanding, particularly if paint removal is done frequently. 

STEPS TO STRIP A WOOD

STEP 1: UTILIZE THE STRIPPER
Shift everything to a place with plenty of air. Put on safety goggles and a face mask before adding paint remover to the aluminum or metal bowl. After dipping the paintbrush into the stripper, start rubbing the old paint off of it. Applying it is similar to applying ordinary paint; make sure to work in tiny areas at a time to ensure that the paint is peeled evenly.

STEP 2: LET IT SOAK
Let the stripper soak for fifteen to twenty minutes for optimal results. You should read the label on the stain stripper for precise time recommendations. Check it at least once every few minutes. If any spots appear to be dry, use an extra stripper.

STEP 3: REMOVE THE STRIPPER FROM THE WOOD.
Using a plastic scraper, remove any varnish and stain or paint. Starting from the wood's edge, carefully scrape in a straight line across it. Once the debris has been removed, repeat the procedure somewhere else. Scrape the board again and again until all of the paint stripper and stain are gone.

STEP 4: REMOVE ANY WOOD SURFACE DEBRIS.
Use a steel wool pad dipped in stripper to clean the surface. Be careful to go with the flow. Once all of the protective layer has been removed, use a moist rag to wipe down the wood surface. After that, the wood needs to be left to dry for a full day. 

STEP 5: SAND THE SURFACE
After the wood has cured, sand it using medium-grit sandpaper. Use a portable belt sander while working on a large surface, such as a door or tabletop. Sand the area until the varnish and stain are completely gone. To remove any scratches left by the coarse sandpaper, use fine-grit sandpaper. After that, use a moist rag to clean the surface to get rid of the dust. The wood item can now be finished with a fresh stain and protective coating.

SANDING WOOD

Sanding will work if you intend to paint over the surface anyhow. In this instance, sanding is to get the surface sufficiently scuffed up so that fresh paint will adhere, rather than completely removing the paint.

THE BENEFITS OF SANDING

• Can go more quickly if you only want to repaint: Sanding the surface to prepare it for a fresh coat goes considerably more quickly if you're not trying to get to the bare wood.
• Odourless and chemical-free: Sanding eliminates the need for chemicals as well as the fumes that strippers release. 
• Less expensive than stripping: Since sandpaper can be reused, sanding is frequently a more cost-effective option. 

THE DRAWBACKS OF SANDING

• Makes a lot of dust:  Although many sanding equipment include dust collecting systems, a lot of dust is still produced that is not collected by these systems. When you are done sanding your workpiece, you will have dust to clean up. 
• Easy to oversand: Using the incorrect grit sequence or over-sanding might result in surface scuffs or dips. Using a paint stripper is less likely to cause damage to the wood. 
• Paint clogging: Paint has the potential to get sticky and frequently clog sandpaper. If you need to remove the paint from your abrasives before sanding, it may take longer. 
• Even when sanding by hand, it might be challenging to reach confined areas. This presents a challenge when attempting a thorough paint strip in a confined space. Paint remover frequently performs better in small areas. 

STEPS TO SAND A WOOD

STEP 1: CLEAN THE WOODEN SURFACE
Before beginning, use soap and water to clean the woodwork. To avoid needlessly clogging your sandpaper, you want to remove as much built-up dirt and debris as you can.

STEP 2: TO PRIME THE SURFACE, SAND IT. 

Sanding can be done with a sanding block or a portable belt sander. In general, a belt sander should be used for bigger surfaces. Work on the paint with 180-grit sandpaper until it gets dull. Use coarser 80-grit sandpaper if there are globs of dried paint from the last sanding operation. Wipe off the dust once the top coat of paint has been removed. As long as the surface is not smooth, it is possible to prime and paint it.

STEP 3: SAND THE SURFACE (TO GET RID OF ALL THE PAINT). 

To remove paint, fit your sanding block or handheld belt sander with 40–60 grit sandpaper. Proceed with caution as excessive pressure can harm the wood while using this coarse grit range. Sandpaper should be used with the grain of the wood to remove previous paint. The paper needs to be replaced periodically. Use an accessory for a multifunctional tool if the palm sander isn't able to reach certain regions.

After covering the entire surface, change to sandpaper with 80–120 grit. Work out any remaining paint and any scratches on the wood with this medium-grit paper. Next, use sandpaper with a grit of 150 to 180. The wood should be smooth and prepared for further work after you have done sanding it. Use a tack cloth to wipe the wood to get rid of any last bits of dust.

Important Information:

Lead may be present in paint applied to wood that was painted before 1978. It is not advised to sand paint of this kind. Lead-based paint needs to be professionally cleaned or sealed off.

CONCLUSION

To achieve the greatest results when stripping or sanding wood, use the proper abrasive substance and grit. Benchmark Abrasives offers sanding discs and belts made especially for woodworking. You can rely on receiving well-engineered products from us—some of the biggest industrial woodworking operations in the country use our products.