Furniture renovation | Removing paint from furniture - guide

Furniture renovation – Renew and repaint furniture easily

Do you have old furniture at home that could use a refresh? Or do you have a project where you’re planning to redo old furniture yourself? To achieve the best results when painting furniture, proper preparation is essential! Create the best conditions to make your furniture renovation turn out as well as possible.

Furniture Restoration – Restore and Remove Paint from Furniture

Perhaps you have a thrift store find that has picked up a few layers of paint over the years and would look better in its original finish? Or a family heirloom that deserves to regain its former glory? We have the solution for how you can restore your furniture without damaging the underlying material.

Step by step guide

Whether you're renovating tables, dressers, chairs, cabinets or maybe an old kitchen sofa, Speedheater has the ultimate paint removal tool. Learn more about furniture renovation in this step-by-step guide.

And did you know that Speedheater's IR rays not only soften paint , glue and varnish , but also dry out moisture and kill black mold , for example. So that old wooden furniture that has been in a damp storage room for the past few years can also get a second chance!

Furniture Paint removal – this is how you do it!

Prepare the furniture and work surface

Place the furniture on a heat-resistant surface. This can be, for example, a concrete floor, a fireproof fabric or aluminum foil. Make sure to choose the right tool for your project. The Speedheater Cobra is well suited for smaller areas, while the Speedheater Rapid Slim covers larger areas at once. Read our guide to choosing the right paint scraper. Remove any fittings and hinges if you are renovating a dresser or cabinet.

Remove old paint and varnish

Start by heating up the old paint using Speedheater’s IR system. For furniture with small and hard-to-reach profiles, we recommend using the Speedheater Cobra in combination with the Speedheater Flexible Scraper. For large, flat surfaces such as tables, cabinets, or dressers, Speedheater Standard paired with our larger paint scrapers works excellently. Monitor the heating by adjusting the distance between the IR lamp and the surface. Usually, it only takes a few seconds before the paint starts to bubble. Easily scrape off the heated paint using one of our paint scrapers. The best results are achieved by pulling the scraper towards you with light pressure against the wood. The boomerang scraper helps you reach narrow spaces in fine carpentry

Repaint the furniture immediately

Since you avoid using solvents with Speedheater’s IR system, the surface is both dry and clean after scraping. This means you can skip the waiting time and start repainting your furniture right away. Sand away any uneven areas and fill deeper scratches or dents with filler. Prime with a good-quality primer for the best durability. Paint the furniture in your desired color, choosing a high-quality paint suitable for woodwork. A fine-haired roller makes it easier to achieve a smooth and even finish. If you want the look of brush strokes, you can go over the last layer with a small brush.

Why should you choose a Speedheater when removing paint from furniture?

When renovating or restoring furniture, it is especially important that the paint removal method does not damage the surface or ruin the piece. Speedheater’s IR tools gently heat paint and varnish, even in deeper profiles, without harming the surface. Once the paint is warmed, you can easily scrape it off without applying excessive force, reducing the risk of damaging delicate wooden furniture.

You can easily control the heat by adjusting the distance from the surface and work efficiently and methodically with the IR tool in one hand and the scraper in the other. You also save time, patience, and the hassle of construction dust by simply scraping off the paint instead of sanding layer after layer.

Compared to other paint removal methods, Speedheater is gentle both on people and the environment. The low temperature prevents any toxic substances from being released from the paint, and you can work in a quiet, dust-free environment. Chemical paint removers are not only associated with health risks but can also shorten the lifespan of the new paint. With Speedheater’s gentle method, you extend the durability of the wood and achieve a more beautiful result that will last for many years.

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Renovating old furniture – Tips

Facilitate the removal of old and dry paint with accelerator oil .

Start with the trickiest areas first!

Protect other surfaces from the heat using aluminum tape or aluminum foil.

Sharpen your scrapers for best effect.

Instructional video

Renovate furniture

Contact us for personal advice

Speedheater is a company that develops, manufactures and sells products and system solutions for paint, putty and varnish removal. We are a company that thinks about making the method of removing paint easier and more efficient at every step. Speedheater IR System is a method that is both more environmentally friendly, safer and more affordable than all other methods of removing paint. Welcome to contact us for a free quote on our unbeatable method for heating paint from the facade, boat, furniture or car.

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