The aim of refinishing is to use different methods like scratching, shaping and chiseling to bring out the natural grain and lines of the wood adding to its beauty. Due to the methods used for refinishing, the wood is damage so you have to keep in mind few points before undertaking this job.
The method of refinishing requires scratching the wood with either severe force or chemical agents. It is therefore essential you use those methods, which are unharmful for both the wood and your hands. It is better to try out your refinishing method on a scrap wood first to avoid incurring any unchangeable damage to your woodwork. Chemical strippers can make old wood coatings to soften down and prevent harmful lead paint dust from flying in the air where you are working. Therefore, it is much safer than manual strippers are.
Use the citrus-based chemical strippers. Though they work slower than ethylene-chloride ones their odor in not toll taking on the lungs and stays longer without drying up.
Try using carbide stripped two handled scrappers of paint because their replacement is not so expensive and remains sharp for a longer period.
Your work ends with the usage of a steel wool, which removes the adhesives and leftover materials from the wood. Use it after you scrap the wood and apply chemicals to it. Remember keep your steel wools in metal cans and not near direct flames.
Whichever method you choose to refinish your woodwork, be it by force or chemicals and molecules, does it gently. Lot of skill and artistry is involved in woodworking so refinish it without damaging it.
