What's the best way to get paint off of wood trim?
Question:Apparently former tenants never heard of painter's tape. I don't know how the woodwork was finished nor do I know what kind of paint this is. Any ideas?
Answers:
Try Goof-Off. Wet a rag and rub the area. If it is old oil based paint it will take a hotter solvent like lacquer thinner. Please remember with any solvents to use only with good ventilation and wear some gloves. If this does not work you may want to lightly spot sand the areas. Match the sealer sheen and reseal the piece of molding.
There is a product in Hardware stores called Homer Formby's, try it. It is suppose to take layers and layers of paint off easily.
Paint remover and furniture refurnishing chemicals should work. You can also try using a heat gun to melt the paint and just peel it off. If you don't want to invest the $20 on a heat gun, use a hair dryer on hot. It might take a little longer, but you'll get the same results. Once the paint is pliable, it should peel right off...no chemicals.
Well old paint on the wood wont be easy to get off and harder to get off if its alkyd(oil based)
The problem with a paint remover(most now adays stink)is that they don't work well and they most likely will remove the finish along with the paint.
I have found that if you are satisfied with something that looks good you can easily cover over the affected areas using a stain that is a bit darker than what is on the wood.
If the moldings are real wide you might only have to darken up the edges,if not you will have to go over the whole thing--NOW use a wiping stain or a gel stain and apply with a brush and get it even-on the edges you wont notice it.
that's the most cost effective way to go and the easiest way for a rental.
now if you are picky you have no choice but to strip all the edges and flats and refinish the wood being care full not to get stripper on the wall-use blue tape-it releases without taking the finish off the wall(to mad-you will have a bit of seepage no matter how well you tape it)
take care not to get stripper on the floor
let it sit,it will bubble up and scrub with steel wool(wear gloves)
neutralize the wood with the recommended agent read back of stripper can
re stain the wood a bit darker than it was
varnish it
its way easy-er to camouflage it in step 1
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