Ralph Martin wrote: >The finish is removed by dipping a bit of 000 steel wool into the >mixture, squeezing out the excess and rubbing lightly a portion of the >finish about one square foot. You continue in this manner until the >finish is removed. Those of you interested in learning how to refinish furniture may be interested in reading Fine Woodworking's reprint book titled 'More Finishes and Finishing Techniques'. It has chapters (articles really) which cover everything from french polishing to spraying lacquer. One chapter covers stripping with chemical strippers. Although methylene chloride is toxic (best to use fresh air respirators with this stuff) it has some unique properties. 1. It works from the bottom up. ie: if you allow a good thick coat of the stuff to sit on the panel being stripped (10 - 15 minutes), the m.c. drops to the bottom of the finish and lifts it off the wood surface without damaging the wood or compromising glue joints. Heavy bodied strippers (there's a joke there somewhere) also contain waxes or clays which gel on the surface of the coat and slow the evaporation of the solvents. 2. When mixed with flammable chemicals such as methyl alcohol and acetone, it raises their flash point so as to render the brew essentially non-flammable. Has anyone subscribed to the new trade journal for professional refinishers, as announced in last month's PTJ? Regards, Stan Kroeker Registered Piano Technician Kroeker & Sons Piano Experts 59 Quiring Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada R2G 1Y5 Ph. 204-669-5881
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