Furniture that is made out of solid wood has become a staple in many homes. Aside from their durability, their beauty is no doubt elegant and classic. They can easily be matched with any design and décor. One of the most common hardwoods used for making furniture is Acacia wood. A downside to using Acacia wood in furniture is the possibility of it getting stained through time. If you are an owner of a furniture made of Acacia wood, you may be wondering how to remove stain from Acacia wood. Let us see some tested ways on how to do so and start taking care of your precious furniture.
What You Need
- Appropriate clothing (preferably long-sleeve shirt and long pants)
- Respiratory mask
- Safety glasses
- Chemical resistant gloves
- Plastic scraper
- Stripper
- Paintbrush
- Container (aluminum pan/metal bowl)
- Steel wool pad
- Wet rag
- Mid-grit sandpaper
- Electric hand sander (for bigger pieces)
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1 – Prepare the Work Area
For this project, it is best to work outdoors. You will be dealing with different materials, including wood strippers, and it is safer to use them outdoors with enough space. Solvents that contain harsh solutions and chemicals may result to skin irritation and even damage upon skin contact.
If there are limitations to your space and are not able to work outdoors, make sure that you are working in an area that is well-ventilated, with open windows. Make sure to provide protection to the floor by laying something to cover the work area, such as a drop cloth.
Step 2 – Prepare the Tools and Materials
It is best to have your tools and materials close to your working area. Make sure to have the paintbrush, stripper, and plastic scraper within reach. Do not forget your protective gear. This will help avoid untowardly incidents, including the possibility of inhaling dangerous chemicals and dust.
Make sure to have your safety glasses on, chemical resistant gloves and respiratory mask before even starting with the chemical stripper. The best clothing for this project is long-sleeve shirts paired with long pants.
Prepare the stripper, and pour chemical solution in a small container. The container should be able to deal with the harshness and strength of the corrosive solvents. As such, an aluminum pan or a metal bowl may be the best option for this.
Step 3 – Apply Stripper on the Surface of the Wood
Apply stripper on the surface of the wood gently. Use your paint brush for this. Thick stripper layers should be applied on the surface. Make sure to apply gentle strokes when brushing until the stripper is evenly distributed on all areas of the wood. It will also work best if the thickness is even across the wood surface.
When dealing with a bigger piece, you may apply the stripper in different portions. This can be done by dividing the piece in to several portions, removing the stain in every portion. After working on the stripper, give some time for it to be absorbed into the wood. This may take about 30 minutes. You may also want to check on the label of the product to see the specific details and instructions for the application. As you wait, you may want to reapply more stain to the dry portions.
Step 4 – Scrape the Stripper Off the Wood
Nest, scrape the stripper from the wood. For this, you will use a plastic scraper. Place the scraper in one area, gently pushing it across the surface of the wood using a straight line. Remove debris along the way. Do the process again until all stain stripper is removed from the wood surface.
Then, wipe the entire surface using a steel wood pad that is soaked in the stripper. This process will remove any residue coats on the wood surface. A wet rag can then be used to wipe the surface. Allow the area to dry for about 24 hours.
Step 5 – Sand, Sand, Sand
After 24 hours, sand the wood surface using a mid-grit sandpaper. If you are working on a bigger piece, you may want to use an electric hand sander. Sand the wood surface, removing traces of varnish and stain. This will also remove the stains on the wood surface and exposing unstained, fresh wood beneath.
A fine-grit sandpaper can then be used to further smoothen the scratches which may be caused after sanding with the mid-grit sandpaper. Then, clean the surface of the wood using rag or damp towel, removing the dust. This will then bring back your Acacia wood furniture to life!
Step 6 – Proper Maintenance
Now that your Acacia wood is back to its fresh appearance, you may want to make sure that it lasts longer. To do so, make sure to clean it regularly. With a damp cloth, wipe the entire furniture, cleaning it from dust. Accumulation of dust is what makes it lose its beauty. Without dust, your furniture will be preserved, as it will also prevent drying or cracking.
Since Acacia wood is sensitive, using harsh chemicals for cleaning may cause damage. For regular cleaning purposes, you may want to use gentle soap, free from silicone or ammonia. Mild soap and warm water will no doubt give the wood its needed protection, restore the beauty of the wood, without sacrificing its quality.
Preservative products may also be used, especially if your furniture is used outdoors. For example, you may want to oil your furniture using tung oil or boiled linseed oil. Since Acacia wood is quite sensitive to direct exposure to sunlight, the oil will give the much needed UV protection.
Conclusion
No doubt that Acacia wood furniture can bring elegance and beauty to any space. Aside from furniture, it may also be used for different projects. However, when it is stained, it may lack luster. If you plan to reuse it, removing the stain should be done first. How to remove stain from Acacia wood? This article gave you the steps to make the entire process hassle-free, fun, even! Did you enjoy this article? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below!
Leave a Reply