Should I sand or strip a varnished table?

[projectmumdanni]

 

 have been sanding on this desk and in the photos it shows how the I’m assuming varnish is reacting. Would I be better using stripping product or preserve with sanding? I’m not enjoying the way the Irwan brand are sanding 🥲 Help please 🙏🏼 

[MitchellMc]

Hi @projectmumdanni,

There are multiple coats of varnish on the piece, and they are likely heating up through sanding, melting, clogging papers and not turning into dust. Although stripping is a messy process, you might like to strip the majority of the coatings and then finish up with sanding. It appears like it's mainly the top layers that are gumming up.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell