How to strip stain off carved wooden chairs?

Question

I bought some carved wooden chairs with the intent to strip back the stain and re-upholster them and use them as our dining chairs.

I am relatively patient and planned to sand them back by hand (no matter how long it took) but am having difficulty getting the stain out of the carved areas without damaging the crispness of the carved edges.

These are the chairs:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stiffydagold/2654343011/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stiffydagold/2654343111/

Are there any products or techniques I can use to get the stain out of the carving without damaging it?

Any advise would be a help.

Answer 1

Steph they are lovely old chairs, and if they are at all valuable to you, make sure you do the job right first time.

The way you are going about it is a bit half hearted. I guess you don't want to go too far just yet, but  I'm thinking this.

If the padding and wadding in the seat cushions is in excellent condition then another tack is needed. However if the seat cushions are in need of replacing this is a perfect opportunity to strip everything off the chairs back to the wood. You can then have them dipped in caustic bath, Professionally. or you could use paint stripper and some fine scrapers to get the muck out of the carved inlays. It is a messy and toxic job. When the stripping is complete, you could take the chairs to a upholsterer for new trim, or if you're half keen, look up how to do it on the web.

If the chairs are not that valuable to you, tape plastic over all the fabric securely, and use the paint stripper to do all the hard work, you might have to reapply it in some spots, and when it is all dry, sanding and sanding in between coats will give you a smooth finish. It is not a job to hurry, and paint stripper is nasty stuff acid. Be careful, plastic gloves glasses old clothes etc don't get it on your skin, wash it off immediately etc. It is very rewarding if completed with care.

Answer 2

Best thing to do is .....very little.

There is  ( from the photos  ) a worn finish which is easy to remove.

Since you really cannot remove "stain" would use a liqiud paint remover .

Cannot make out what kind of wood they are, but the  color is most likely a function of age & a dark tinted finish.

Stripping will lighten them up .

Sanding will do just what you said.....dull the details as well as make for an uneven finish where bare wood has been exposed.

Rags , old toothbrishes , toothpicks , fine steel or bronze wool to "wipe" off the old finish.

As for refinishing ,your call, but in keeping w/ the style an oil finish or french polish  fits & will show off the woodgrain.

Best regards

Answer 3

You are going to have to use a stripper and toothbrushes to get into these crevices..keep in mkind the upholstered parts of this chair will have to be removed first..There is no masking tape or anything to cover them that will keep stripper off of them... Sorry to say but I have refinished many a piece of furniture..and this is going to be your only ticket out...You also have to put a layer of stripper on the entire piece, even what you have already sanded down to bare wood, for the stripper will take the crevices and other parts it touches down to the finish that is in the grain, and once refinished if you just used stripper in some parts and not all..then the stain will "take" different on the parts that had no stripper applied..even if it is down to bare wood....on parts..put a thin coat of stripper on them areas as well...Also keep in mind..if these antiques are worth alot of money, refinishing them will take away from thier value up to 75%..