I'm trying to refinish my wood table, but my electric sander isn't cutting through the paint as I hoped. I did better with handheld sandpaper, but it was a lot of hard work for little progress. I'm torn between buying coarser sandpaper or opting for paint stripper, but I'm wary of paint strippers due to their toxic nature. Additionally, some parts of the table have water damage, which I feel sanding might address better than a stripper. What do you all think is the best way to proceed?
3 Answers
Have you considered using a heat gun? It's a good alternative to paint strippers. Just be cautious—paint gets softer when heated, which can create a mess with your sandpaper. You could use the heat gun to remove most of the paint and then scrub any leftover bits off with sandpaper. Plus, it's a lot less toxic!
What grit sandpaper were you using on your table? The grit can make a huge difference in how effectively it removes paint. If it's too fine, you might not be making enough progress. A coarser grit could help!
You could look for a less harmful paint stripper like 'Peel Away 1.' It's environmentally friendly but be careful because it's still pretty caustic. But honestly, if the paint layers are thick, a heat gun usually works wonders—I've had to use one on older houses where there were many layers! Just sand it down afterward if needed to get a smooth finish.