How to strip and restore Redgum coffee table?

uqlybish

My mum painted over this beautiful red gum coffee table a while back and now doesn't use it, so I'm taking it off her hands and want to restore it.

She's pretty handy and recommended I start by sanding and seeing how much I can take off. Will paint stripper be better and is there a preferred brand? I haven't done a lot of woodworking so any advice on methods or precautions I should take are very appreciated! Thanks :)

JacobZ

Hi @uqlybish,

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community, it is wonderful to have you join us.

Sanding is definitely part of the process, but it is often difficult and time consuming to remove paint with sanding alone and that is where chemical strippers come in. They break down the old coating so it can be lifted or scraped off more easily.

This https://www.bunnings.com.au/poly-1l-polystrippa-paint-stripper-1l_p1715074 is a good option which will make paint removal much easier. Just make sure you follow the instructions closely, apply it in a well ventilated area, preferably outside, and you wear gloves, a mask and protective clothing while doing so.

Once the paint stripper has been applied and given time to work, you can use a https://www.bunnings.com.au/100mm-sharp-edge-paint-scraper_p1670156 to remove the paint.

Once the bulk of the paint has been removed, you can sand the surface to smooth it and prepare it for finishing with your choice of sealer such as oil, varnish, wax or paint.

Check out https://www.bunnings.com.au/diy-advice/diy-skills/painting/how-to-remove-paint and https://www.bunnings.com.au/diy-advice/diy-skills/repairing/how-to-restore-wooden-furniture for some further guidance.

Let me know if you have any further questions.

Jacob