If you have ever wanted to refinish a piece of furniture, clear up an accidental paint spill, or remove paint from wooden trim in your home, there is a good chance that you have checked into paint strippers. You also probably noticed that there are thousands of different paint strippers on the market. The sheer volume of types, sizes, and styles is baffling. Fortunately, you are not alone. Anyone who has worked with wood in the past has asked themselves the question "what is the best paint stripper for wood," or "what is the best paint stripper for wood products that I am working on?" Fortunately, we've complied a list to assess the best paint stripper for wood restoration and repainting projects.
Comparison Table
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Paint Stripper for Wood FAQ
1. What Is a Good Paint Stripper for Wood?
2. What Is the Difference Between Manual Stripping and Chemical Paint Stripping?
3. Are There Different Types of Manual Strippers?
4. What Are the Different Types of Chemical Paint Strippers?
5. What Is the Difference Between Biochemical Paint Strippers, Caustic Paint Strippers, and Solvent Paint Strippers?
How We Reviewed Products to Find the Best Paint Stripper for Wood
Photo by Suzy Hazelwood from Pexels
To provide you with the best paint stripper for wood products, we reviewed paint strippers by looking at the types, chemicals, dangers, versatility, and effectiveness of each. It is important to remember that each type of paint stripper reviewed has a different purpose. No single paint stripper accomplishes all of your paint stripping needs.
Overall Price Range
The overall price range for the very best paint stripper for wood depends on the type and amount of paint stripper you buy. Larger quantities cost more. Most chemical paint strippers range from $5.00 per quart up to $25.00 depending on the type. Manual strippers range from $5.00 up to several hundred depending on the type of mechanical stripper you use. The average simple mechanical paint stripper is usually under $50.00.
All of the pricing for chemical paint strippers on this list is based per quart unless otherwise noted.
What We Reviewed
Features
Klean-Strip Green QKGT75004 Turpentine made the best paint stripper for wood list because of its effectiveness when used on just about any type of paint or varnish. It can also remove most adhesives and wood stains. As a solvent, it is highly volatile and dangerous. Be sure to follow the directions exactly and clean up properly after using this particular paint stripper. You should also use protective gear such as gloves (not latex or rubber because it dissolves or weakens both), eye protection, and skin protection.
Where to Buy
Amazon
Features
Homax Products Bronze Fine Wool Pads are a manual type of paint stripper. This particular type makes the best paint stripper for wood list due to its price, ease of use, and its versatility. Because it is a manual paint stripper, it does not matter what type of paint you are dealing with. It is made from fine pieces of bronze copper wool and can remove and refinish the wood that you are stripping. It has a dual purpose in that it also prepares the surface for repainting or staining. To use this method, all you have to do is scrub the wool over the surface of the paint. It does require some effort and can produce a lot of dust. If you are using the bronze wool, you should wear a protective mask and eye protection to prevent dust from entering your eyes, nose, and mouth. Bronze wool is not good for extremely large areas or walls.
Where to Buy
Amazon
Features
The Pit Bull CHIGH0014UL electric heat gun made this list because of its chemical-free method of stripping paint and the lower amount of effort it requires compared to many other types. Unlike bronze wool, this heat gun can be useful when removing paint from a large area without the use of chemical strippers. It is also not nearly as messy as sanding or using bronze wool. Despite its overall effectiveness, a heat gun may leave some paint behind and you might have to resort to one of the other methods for a clean finish. This particular heat gun can also be used to shrink wrap items and melt more than just paint.
Where to Buy
Amazon
Features
Goof Off Professional Strength Remover will remove a variety of substances from any hard nonporous surface. This includes tar and latex-based paints. It is a very strong solvent and can harm you, pets, or other animals. You should always use Goof Off in a well-ventilated area with proper safety gear. It is on this list because it is extremely effective in stripping latex paint off of wood.
Where to Buy
Amazon
Features
Motsenbocker's Lift Off 413-01 Latex-Based Paint Remover is excellent for removing just about any latex-based paint. It comes in a spray bottle that makes the application very easy even if the area you are removing paint from is large. Although it can remove other types of paint, it is most effective on latex. It is also environmentally friendly. As a biochemical paint stripper, it is not as dangerous as caustic or solvent paint removers. You spray it on, wait, and then scrape the paint off in large strips. It takes a bit more effort than some of the other liquid or gel removers, but it works well and is easy to clean up.
Where to Buy
Amazon
Features
The 3M 9099DCNA large area paint and rust stripper is a sanding disk that fits on most power drills. It is a mechanical type of paint stripper. It works just like a sander or sandpaper would. You simply attach the disk to your power drill and sand the paint down. There are both benefits and drawbacks to this method. One of the major benefits is the ability to strip a large area of paint without much effort. Unfortunately, the main drawback is that it makes a mess of things. You will have paint dust just about everywhere. When you use this method of stripping paint, you have to wear a mask and protective eyewear. You also need to be prepared for a massive clean-up job. It is, however, excellent for removing things like textured paint and may prevent the need for additional sanding before repainting.
Where to Buy
Amazon
Features
Citristrip QCSG801 Paint and Varnish Stripping Gel is one of the most gentle and safest liquid or semi-liquid paint removers. It works well on wood and other hard materials. It does not have any caustic or toxic chemicals in it and smells like citrus. This paint stripper is particularly good when you are environmentally conscious, have kids in the home, or have pets. Although it stays wet and working for up to 24 hours, it is non-toxic so you do not have to worry about hurting anything around you. Also, you do not have to wear as much protective gear as you do with some of the harsher solvents, although it is always recommended that you wear gloves and eye protection when working with anything to remove paint. Citristrip is excellent for removing multiple layers of paint. A dropcloth underneath the item you are stripping can help you to clean up the mess.
Where to Buy
Amazon
Features
Although it comes in larger quantities like most other paint strippers, Goo Gone Latex paint spray is excellent for removing paint from smaller areas. When you have issues with paint splatter or over-spray, or are simply working with a small section of wood, Goo Gone spray is the way to go. You can adjust the spray bottle for precision or larger areas. It is a solvent so you will need protective gear, particularly on larger areas.
Where to Buy
Amazon
Features
Blue Bear Paint Stripper with Safenol is one of the safer non-caustic types of paint remover. It removes paint without the use of methalyne chloride, though it is still toxic and you still have to wear protective gear while you are applying it. It is less likely to cause major damage to your skin, eyes, nose, and internal organs than other solvents or caustics. Unlike other safe paint strippers, it can remove almost any type of paint including dangerous lead based paints.
Where to Buy
Franmar
Features
EcoFast HD Liquid Paint Remover comes in both a liquid and a gel. It is an eco-friendly biochemical paint stripper. It is important to note that this product does not come in smaller than one-gallon sizes. You can use EcoFast on most types of wood. It does not act like other, more harmful paint strippers. Instead of dissolving the paint, it breaks the bond between the paint and the wood. After it sits for a bit, you simply scrape large strips of the paint off. This makes it easier to clean as well. The only true negative of EcoFast liquid paint remover is that it is more expensive than most other liquid products.
Where to Buy
Amazon
The Verdict
The best paint stripper for wood depends on the type of paint, the type of wood, how much effort you want to put forth, and whether toxic chemicals are an option. Each type of paint stripper on this list has a slightly different use or function. You will want to evaluate your needs including variables such as ventilation and type of paint before deciding on exactly which type suits your project and budget. Each of the paint strippers on this list is highly effective and reasonably priced.
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